General Articles

High Throughput miRNA Isolation
Description: The MagMAX™-96 for Microarrays Total RNA Isolation Kit combines TRI Reagent® Solution and the Ambion® MagMAX bead-based technology to recover high-quality RNA ideal for use on microarrays. Now, with a minor protocol modification, miRNAs can be isolated using this kit as well.

The Optimal Thickness of FFPE Sections for miRNA Isolation
Description: Our scientists examine the effect of section thickness (5–40 µm) on miRNA isolation from FFPE tissues

Ten Tips for In Situ Hybridization of Tissue Microarrays 

Variation of microRNA Profiles

Protocols

Gel Purification of miRNA from Total RNA

Isolating Small RNAs Using the MagMAX™-96 for Microarrays Kit
Description: With very slight modifications, the MagMAX-96 for Microarrays Kit can be used to isolate total RNA that includes the small RNA fraction (miRNA, tRNA, 5S/5.8S rRNA, and other small RNA species).

Isolation of Small RNAs Using the RiboPure™-Blood Kit
Description: With a few additional reagents and significant protocol modifications, the RiboPure™-Blood Kit can be used to isolate total RNA that includes the small RNA fraction from RNAlater® Solution-treated human blood samples.

Technotes

Accurate, Sensitive Quantitation of microRNAs from FFPE Tissues - TechNotes 16(1)
Description: This study describes the successful isolation and accurate measurement of miRNA expression from formalin- or paraformalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples.

An Easy Assay to Monitor Transfected Levels of the Pre-miR™ miRNA Precursor Positive Control - TechNotes 15(1)
Description: The Pre-miR™ miRNA Starter Kit, combined with methods for RNA preparation that retain small RNAs, allows measurement of delivery of the Pre-miR Positive Control with a TaqMan® MicroRNA Assay.

An Interview with Dr. Caifu Chen: A Passion for Science and Technology - TechNotes 14(3)
Description: Get to know our Director of Assays and Array Research & Development, responsible for TaqMan® gene expression and genotyping assays, including miRNA assays.

Characterization of miRNA Expression in Normal Human Tissues - TechNotes 15(2)

Description: Our scientists examined the profiles of 345 human miRNAs in 40 normal tissues using TaqMan® MicroRNA Assays.

Conveniently Monitor miRNA Transfection and Function at the Protein Level - TechNotes 14(2)
Description: When using miRNA mimics to examine biological effects of specific miRNAs use the Pre-miR™ miRNA Starter Kit to optimize miRNA mimic transfection and the Western-Star™ Immunodetection System to detect miRNA mimic-induced knockdown at the protein level.

Detect and Quantitate MicroRNA in Laser Capture Microdissection Samples - TechNotes 13(1)
Description: This article describes how three Ambion kits were used for the quantitation of specific miRNAs and detection of differential miRNA expression in laser capture microdissected mouse brain samples.

Detecting Attomole Amounts of Small RNA - TechNotes 10(4)
Description: A description of our new mirVana™ miRNA Detection Kit.

Detecting miRNA & siRNA - TechNotes 10(4)
Description: An optimized technique for the detection and quantitation of small RNAs is discussed that allows easier monitoring of expression and is considerably more sensitive than Northern analysis.

Examine microRNA Profiles from Archived Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded (FFPE) Tissue - TechNotes 12(3)

Description: Use Ambion's new RecoverAll™ Kit for the quantitative recovery of RNA, including microRNA, from FFPE samples. The isolated miRNAs can then be used for miRNA expression profiling.

Extract MicroRNA from Blood Samples - TechNotes 13(1)
Description: Ambion's LeukoLOCK™ Total RNA Isolation System provides researchers with a fast way to isolate nucleic acids (including miRNA) from the leukocyte fraction (WBCs) of whole blood.

Finding the Best Endogenous Controls for Real-Time Quantitation of miRNA - TechNotes 15(1)
Description: Our scientists perform a systematic study of noncoding RNA species using a variety of tissues and cell lines to determine their suitability as endogenous controls for TaqMan® MicroRNA Assays.

Functional Screen to Identify Genes Involved in hTERT Induction - TechNotes 14(1)

Description: The goal of this study was to identify genes and miRNAs that potentially regulate telomerase induction in normal diploid fibroblast BJ cells.

Gene Expression Profiling and miRNA Discovery in a Carcinoma Model - TechNotes 14(4)
Description: Here we describe a step-by-step strategy for parallel analysis of mRNA and miRNA expression using the Applied Biosystems tool set. A recent study about transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulation in a thyroid cancer model illustrates the type of data that can be acquired from such studies.

Get the miRNA Out—Plant Applications - TechNotes 11(5)
Description: The mirVana™ miRNA isolation Kit is shown to be a useful tool for small RNA isolation from plant tissues.

Getting Started with microRNA Expression Analysis Research using Real-Time PCR - TechNotes 13(4)
Description: Here, we provide a general overview for identifying differentially expressed miRNAs. We also describe some of the specialized research tools that can help assess miRNA expression.

Getting Started with microRNA Research - TechNotes 12(3)

Description: The major research questions in the microRNA field are discussed, along with the experimental approaches and products that can be used to answer these questions.

Getting Started with miRNA Analysis Experiments - TechNotes 14(1)

Description: The Pre-miR™ miRNA Precursor Starter Kit is designed to help researchers successfully deliver functional miRNA mimics into cultured mammalian cells.

Got Small RNA? - TechNotes 12(1)
Description: An overview (with data) of Ambion's mirVana™ PARIS™ Kit and mirVana™ miRNA Isolation Kit for the isolation of total RNA without loss of small RNA species.

Identification of miRNA Profiles in Individual Embryonic Stem Cells - TechNotes 15(3)
Description: Research is described that highlights the benefits of our new Megaplex™ Primer Pools.

Isolate and Quantitate miRNA from Plants - TechNotes 14(4)
Description: This article describes successful results obtained with Arabidopsis thaliana miRNA isolated using the Ambion® Plant RNA Isolation Aid in conjunction with the mirVana™ miRNA Isolation Kit. The resulting miRNA was quantitatively analyzed using TaqMan® MicroRNA Assays.

Isolate It All: siRNA, miRNA, Total RNA, Native Protein - TechNotes 11(4)
Description: Recover native protein and all RNA species, including small RNAs such as miRNA, siRNA, snRNA, and snoRNA, from the same sample using Ambion's new mirVana™ PARIS™ Kit.

Isolating miRNA for Profiling Studies - TechNotes 13(2)
Description: Ambion has developed a complete line of kits and reagents for isolating miRNAs from a wide range of cell and tissue types, as well as from blood and FFPE samples.

MicroRNA Analysis—Start Here - TechNotes 15(3)
Description: The resources you need for microRNA (miRNA) studies, from isolation through discovery, profiling, quantitation, and validation are available from Applied Biosystems.

MicroRNA Cloning Overview - TechNotes 12(3)
Description: Describes the process by which miRNAs can be cloned in an effort to identify new members of this small RNA family.

MicroRNA Research: The Controls You Need - TechNotes 14(1)
Description: Anti-miR™ and Pre-miR™ positive, negative, and labeled controls have been designed to serve as convenient and effective controls for experiments involving Anti-miR miRNA Inhibitors and Pre-miR miRNA Precursors.

miRNA Expression in FirstChoice® Human Brain Reference RNA - TechNotes 14(2)
Description: The expression patterns of 297 miRNAs was characterized in the FirstChoice® Human Brain Reference RNA, the most thoroughly characterized, commercially available human tissue RNA.

miRNA Expression in White Blood Cells - TechNotes 11(3)
Description: Several of Ambion's miRNA analysis products were used to analyze miRNA expression in human white blood cells.

New Tools for Small RNA Analysis - TechNotes 11(1)
Description: An overview of Ambion's products for the study of small RNAs. Includes the mirVana™ products for the isolation and detection of small RNAs.

Potent Reagents for miRNA Studies - TechNotes 15(2)
Description: A brief overview of TaqMan® MicroRNA Assays, Anti-miR™ miRNA Inhibitors, and Pre-miR™ miRNA Precursors.

Precursor miRNAs for Successful miRNA Functional Studies - TechNotes 12(1)
Description: A description of the design and validation of Ambion's Pre-miR™ miRNA Precursor Molecules and Anti-miR™ miRNA Inhibitors, plus advantages and applications.

Prepare siRNA and miRNA Probes in Just 1 Hour - TechNotes 10(4)
Description: Introducing our new mirVana™ miRNA Probe Construction Kit.

Quantitate Differentially Expressed Human miRNAs - TechNotes 14(4)
Description: The Multiplex RT for TaqMan® MicroRNA Assays and TaqMan® Array Human MicroRNA Panel v1.0 (Early Access) enable scientists to transition easily from quantitating expression of small numbers of miRNA species to profiling larger numbers of miRNA species.

Quantitate miRNA from a Few Drops of Mouse Blood - TechNotes 14(4)
Description: The Mouse RiboPure™-Blood Kit can be used to isolate high-quality total RNA, including miRNA, from mouse tail vein bleeds in time course studies. MicroRNA can then be quantitated using TaqMan® MicroRNA Assays.

Rapidly Optimize Anti-miR™ Inhibitor Transfection Using Real-Time RT-PCR - TechNotes 14(4)
Description: The functional effects of synthetic miRNA inhibitors are often difficult to predict and detect. Add confidence to your functional microRNA experiments using the let-7c Anti-miR™ miRNA Inhibitor in conjunction with the HMGA2 TaqMan® Gene Expression Assay.

Rapidly Prepare Probes and Markers for Small RNA Analysis - TechNotes 11(2)
Description: The new mirVana™ Probe & Marker Kit provides a complete solution to quickly prepare and purify high specific activity radiolabeled RNA probes and small RNA markers.

Reagents for Up- and Down- Regulation of miRNA Activity in Mammalian Cells - TechNotes 11(6)
Description: Pre-miR™ miRNA Precursors and Anti-miR™ miRNA Inhibitors

Research Highlight: Identification of Tropomyosin 1 as a Downstream Target of mir-21 - TechNotes 14(3)
Description: Here we summarize research conducted at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, which utilized Anti-miR™ miRNA Inhibitors among other Applied Biosystems products to explore the relationship between miRNAs and tumorigenesis.

Sensitive Monitoring of microRNA Activity - TechNotes 12(1)
Description: The pMIR-REPORT™ miRNA Expression Reporter Vector provides accurate, quantitative, "in cell" measurement of miRNA expression.

Simple, Rapid, Quantitative, and Sensitive Tools for miRNA Profiling - TechNotes 14(3)
Description: TaqMan® MicroRNA Assays are highly sensitive and specific assays that are now available pre-loaded in the TaqMan Array Human MicroRNA Panel, a 384-well micro-fluidic card.