Visualize Gene Expression & Genetic Variations in Tissues:

Applications of RNAscope™ and BaseScopeTM ISH technology

The nervous system consists of numerous specialized cell types that remain to fully cataloged and characterized at the molecular level. Due to the high degree of structural and functional heterogeneity and the intricate spatial organization of these cells, it is of special importance to analyze gene expression in the presence of full morphological and spatial contexts. Due to the lack of specific antibody reagents, especially for lncRNAs, G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and ion channels, mapping of specific transcripts by in situ hybridization offers an excellent alternative approach. The RNAscope™ assay provides a powerful method to detect gene expression within the spatial and morphological tissue context. BaseScopeTM is a novel in situ hybridization technology that allows visualization of splice junctions between adjacent exons and/or retained introns in highly specific and sensitive manner, allowing characterization of alternative splicing and circular RNAs in cells and tissues.

RNAscope™ and BaseScopeTM assays, the two highly specific and sensitive ISH methods allow visualizing gene expression and genetic variations in tissue environments.

• Detection, characterization, and (co-)localization of mRNAs in the central and peripheral nervous system:
  • Co-expression with specific cell type markers
  • Sub-cellular localization of mRNA expression in cell body, axons or dendrites
• Validation of target mRNA expression after high-throughput transcriptome analysis
• Detection of mRNA in the nervous system when no (reliable) antibodies are available, including GPCRs and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)
• Validation of (cell type-specific) genetic modifications including knock-out models or transgene expression
• Characterization of specific alternatively spliced variants in single cells
• Visualizing expression of circular RNAs at subcellular level in tissue environment