nCounter

The nCounter from NanoString Technologies is designed to measure highly multiplexed targets (up to 800-plex in a single tube) using fluorescently labeled reporter probes. Through the use of a barcoding technology, direct counting of individual molecules is made possible with a very high dynamic range, sensitivity, reproducibility, specificity and without any enzymatic reaction.

RNA and DNA molecules can be measured.

The probes used are about 100 bases long. They are designed by NanoString bioinformaticians on the basis of RefSeq ID’s or provided sequences.

The complete system includes two instruments. The PrepStation (liquid handling robot) is used to purify ternary complexes obtained during the hybridization, to remove unhybridized probes and to immobilize the complexes into the cartridge for subsequent image acquisition. The nCounter (image acquisition instrument) is used to scan the cartridge and generate raw data (counts).

Applications

mRNA, miRNA, long non coding RNA profiling
CNV analysis
ChIP analysis (ChIP-string)
Simultaneous gene and protein measurement (available for the commercial PanCancer Immune codeset only)

Similarly to real-time PCR, probes for samples normalization must be included in the codeset.
Preassembled codesets interrogating specific pathways or complete miRNA panels (human and mouse), are also available.
The system is perfectly suited for degraded RNA samples (ex: FFPE samples).

Input material recommendations

Input material

RNA

For human, 100 ng of RNA is required. For bacteria, 10 ng is sufficient.
Protocols of pre-amplification (requiring enzymatic reactions) can be used for low input material.

DNA

50 ng for bacteria to 600 ng of DNA for human are required for CNV analysis.
300 ng of ChIP material is required for ChIP-string.

NanoString Technologies nCounter
Photo NanoString Technologies

nCounter detail

nCounter barcodes
Picture jurvetson - Flickr