LunaScript RT Master Mix Kit Protocols (NEB #E3025)
- Mix components by vortexing briefly and spin down if necessary.
- Prepare cDNA synthesis reaction as described below:
COMPONENT 20 µl REACTION FINAL CONCENTRATION LunaScript RT Master Mix (Primer-free) (5X) 4 µl 1X
Random Primer Mix (60 µM)1
Or d(T)23VN (50 µM) 2
Or Gene-specific primer32 μl
2 μl
x μl6 µM
5 µM
0.1–1 µM (typically 0.5 µM final)RNA Sample4 variable (up to 1 µg)
Nuclease-free Water to 20 µl
For no-RT control reactions, mix the following components:
COMPONENT 20 µl REACTION FINAL CONCENTRATION No-RT Control Mix (Primer-free) (5X) 4 µl 1X
Random Primer Mix (60 µM)1
Or d(T)23VN (50 µM) 2
Or Gene-specific primer32 μl
2 μl
x μl6 µM
5 µM
0.1–1 µM (typically 0.5 µM final)RNA Sample4 variable (up to 1 µg)
Nuclease-free Water to 20 µl
For no template controls, mix the following components:
COMPONENT 20 µl REACTION FINAL CONCENTRATION LunaScript RT Master Mix (Primer-free) (5X) 4 µl 1X
Random Primer Mix (60 µM)1
Or d(T)23VN (50 µM) 2
Or Gene-specific primer32 μl
2 μl
x μl6 µM
5 µM
0.1–1 µM (typically 0.5 µM final)Nuclease-free Water to 20 µl
1 Random Primer Mix (NEB #S1330) is recommended for real-time qPCR detection.
2 Oligo d(T)23VN (NEB #S1327) is recommended for long or full-length cDNA synthesis.
3 Gene-specific primers can be used for target-specific cDNA synthesis. The final concentration is typically 0.5 µM and can be optimized in the range of 0.1–1 µM.
4 Up to 1 µg total RNA, 1 µg mRNA or 100 ng specific RNA can be used in a 20 µl reaction. To accommodate larger amounts of input RNA (> 1 µg), the reaction should be scaled up to ensure optimum cDNA synthesis.
Incubate reactions in a thermocycler with the following steps:
PRIMERS FOR cDNA SYNTHESIS CYCLE STEP
TEMP
TIME CYCLES Random Primers (e.g., Random Primer Mix) Primer Annealing
25°C
2 minutes 1
cDNA Synthesis
55°C
10 minutes Heat Inactivation
95°C
1 minute Oligo-dT primers or a gene-specific primer cDNA Synthesis
55°C
10 minutes 1
Heat Inactivation
95°C
1 minute
The cDNA product should be stored at -20°C. In general, the volume of
cDNA product should not exceed 1/10 of the qPCR or PCR reaction volume.
Where needed, up to 20% qPCR volume can be undiluted cDNA product.
For qPCR applications, we recommend using Luna Universal qPCR Master Mix
(NEB #M3003) for dye-based qPCR detection and Luna Universal Probe qPCR
Master Mix (NEB #M3004) for probe-based detection.
For downstream PCR, we recommend OneTaq 2X Master Mix (NEB #M0482 or NEB #M0485) for PCR detection up to 5kb, Q5® Hot Start High-Fidelity 2X Master Mix (NEB #M0494) for highest fidelity, and LongAmp Taq 2X Master Mix (NEB #M0287) for high yields from longer products.