By providing a valuable window into complex biological systems, next-generation sequencing (NGS) is transforming the life sciences. It can rapidly sequence millions of DNA fragments in parallel, opening a door to multi-omics — the study of the full suite of DNA, RNA and their chemical modifications. NGS has become an essential tool for research in the fields of cancer, assisted reproductive technology and personalized medicine.
The NGS process starts with preparing a library by using a series of complex enzymatic reactions to fragment and convert DNA molecules. As scientists continue to push the boundaries of omics technologies, library preparation of specialized reagents — compounds that facilitate a reaction — is becoming more crucial than ever.
Vazyme researchers develop enzyme-based innovation solutions.Credit: Vazyme
“The choice of reagents and materials — such as enzymes for fragmenting DNA during NGS library preparation — largely determines the precision, reproducibility and reliability of the converted NGS data,” explains Lijun Zhang, co-founder and vice president of Vazyme, a biotech company, based in Jiangsu province, China, which specializes in the design, manufacture and use of bioactive compounds.
Despite increasing demand for reagents, it is still challenging to develop new ones. In particular, it is difficult to optimize cross-platform compatibility and often very low levels of genomic DNA or RNA are extracted from samples — sometimes only a few cells. Most critically, it is difficult to ensure the results of library preparation are accurate and reproducible.
Good manufacturing practice (GMP) fermentation and purification workshop.Credit: Vazyme
Vazyme researchers have been leading the development of innovative solutions for molecular research and diagnostics, drawing on their expertise in biologically active proteins, with a particular focus on developing enzyme-based reagents.
“We’ve engineered an enzyme with hyperactivity. Using this enzyme, DNA fragmentation and tagmentation can be done in nine hours, with ultralow amounts of testing sample — as low as a single cell,” says Mingyang Jiang, director of NGS product development at Vazyme. “Our experience in protein production ensures to obtain a high purity of enzyme with minimal levels of residual nucleic acids.”
To optimize the reaction conditions of the reagents for supersensitivity, Jiang’s team tested various combinations of enzymes and buffer solution concentrations. The reagents are then tested on a range of sample types, including different cultivated cell populations and tissues, striking a balance between reliability and cost effectiveness.
The research programme at Vazyme has enabled multiple frontline studies. For instance, the library preparation reagent for CUT&TAG, a molecular biology method for investigating interactions between proteins and DNA, has been applied in several studies, including one on the transcription factor HSF1 published in Nature Cell Biology1.
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test laboratory.Credit: Vazyme
Partnering with Tsinghua University, Vazyme has developed Stacc-seq, a NGS-based technology that allows the RNA polymerase II binding landscape to be detected in ultralow numbers of cells2. The special reagents designed for Stacc-seq by Vazyme optimized the library preparation of the new technology, resulting in crucial insights into genome activation during the early development of mouse embryos.
“We’re dedicated to enhancing accessibility and practicality of innovative bioactive compounds,” says Zhang. “In future, test results will be more accurate and dependable, at a lower cost and faster speed.”
For Vazyme, advancing technological knowledge and practical applications are equally important. The company is actively seeking collaboration and continually exploring new avenues for innovation. By leading the way in scientific exploration, Vazyme aims to improve public health.
If you are a researcher who is interested in collaborating with Vazyme, you can reach out to express your interest at marketing@vazyme.com.