FAQs LightCycler/HybProbes - LCPs

Synthesis scale refers to the amount of starting CPG (controlled-pore glass) support-bound monomer used to initiate the DNA synthesis, not the amount of final material synthesized. This is the same for all manufacturers of synthetic DNA using standard phosphoramidite chemistry. When a synthesis scale of 40 nmole is specified, approximately 40 nmoles of the first base are added to the DNA synthesizer. For an average 25-mer, at least 25% of this starting material will result in failure sequences; hence it is not possible to produce 40 nmoles of full-length product from a 40 nmole scale synthesis. The losses occur during synthesis, post-synthetic processing, transfer of material, and quality control. Final yield is the actual amount that we guarantee to deliver.

Please note that OD₂₆₀ values are a measure of total nucleotides´ optical density. Hence, neither purity nor amount of ordered substance are transparently reflected. For simplification and exemplification reasons look at the following:

1 OD of the 20mer 5´CAT CGT ATT CGA TGC TAC GT 3´

translates into approximately 5 nmol.

1 OD of the 40mer 5´CAT CGT ATT CGA TGC TAC GT CAT CGT ATT CGA TGC TAC GT 3´

translates into approximately 2.5 nmol.

Therefore, a 1 OD guaranteed amount of delivered product can vary significantly, while metabion´s commitment to delivered yields in nmol does not allow for ambiguity in terms of what you expect and pay for.

DNA synthesis is a complicated process, which has improved significantly over the last years. Despite these improvements, all manufacturers have an inherent failure rate. We are constantly developing our processes and systems to minimize these losses; however, it is inevitable that we will occasionally have to re-synthesize some oligos. Please note that metabion performs strict quality controls on each and every oligo synthesized. If an oligo does not pass our quality tests, it will be resynthesized.

The expected average in-house turnover time is 4-5 working days. Please note that we perform strict quality controls on your ordered LC®probe. In case one or more LC®probe do not pass our quality control, they will have to be resynthesized. This may, of course, result in a delay.

Using our optimized production pipeline, we can deliver probes of over 40 bases. Please inquire.

There is a normal degree of variation in the appearance of the supplied dry oligonucleotide pellets. Variation in appearance per se does not indicate a quality defect. In general, appearance of LC®probe may vary from powdery to hyaloid. The color changes according to the dye attached.

Purified distilled water, TE or any biological buffers (i.e. with physiological pH) are acceptable as diluents. The recommended diluent volume is 100 µl - 1 ml, the concentration depending on the application to be used and the yield of the resulting product. (see also "How stable is my probe once I have re-suspended it?")

To gain a maximum shelf life for oligonucleotides, samples should generally be stored dehydrated at ≤ -15°C in absence of light. Under the mentioned conditions, samples are stable for at least 6 months. In case of a longer storage period, oligos should be pretested for molecular integrity prior to experimental use. If a sterile solution (e.g. water, biological buffer) is used as diluent, the re-suspended the probe will be stable at 20°C for several days to weeks, at 4°C for about a month. If stored frozen at –20°C or –70°C, it will remain stable for several months. For correct storing and best performance of your probe, we recommend the following:

• Avoid repeated freeze-thaw, as this will denature the probe.
• Avoid the use of distilled water as a diluent, since its pH may be as low as 4-5.
  The probe stability in solution depends on the pH. Dissolving probes into acidic solutions may result in oligo degradation. Therefore, use purified distilled water.
• Minimize the exposure of fluorescent probes to light, to avoid any bleaching effect.
• Store probes highly concentrated and not in working dilutions, if you are not planning to use them within 24 hours. The higher the dilution factor, the faster the fluorescent activity fades away. Therefore, try to store highly concentrated aliquots frozen, thaw them only once, dilute them just before you use the probe and store the aliquots at 4°C in the dark.

For a detail explanation of LC®probe and their use in qPCR, please refer to our Learning Platform

You also need to consider the following:

Metabion is dedicated to reliably deliver high quality products. While every production step is performed in light of achieving best quality, the product is released only if it passes our final inspection. Mass Spectrometry has become the state-of-the-art technology for verifying the integrity of oligonucleotides, and metabion has been the first custom oligo house who introduced routine mass checks into its operations. Each and every oligo is characterized by either MALDI- or ESI-ToF and stringent release criteria are applied.

Mass Spectrometry allows for the most sensitive detection of low-level by-products/impurities such as

• n-1/n-x oligos
• Depurination
• Incomplete Deprotection
• Acrylonitrile adducts
• High Salt Content Identification

Moreover, it is the fastest and most efficient way to identify potential product mix-ups.

We run two different types of Mass Spectrometry (MS) instruments in order to cope best with quality and quantity/throughput issues determined by the specifications of the respective oligo/analyte. While each instrument type precisely characterizes oligonucleotides in terms of composition through direct molecular weight measurement, their field of application is diligently adjusted to suitability considerations.

MALDI-ToF instruments typically have a higher throughput, while the limits of using this technique become manifest, if it comes to analyzing long oligonucleotides, or oligos carrying certain photo-labile modifications (e.g.common quenchers like BHQ®s, Dabcyl used in DLPs).

ESI-ToF is less efficient in terms of throughput but perfectly compensates for resolution issues with long oligos as well as for a potential detrimental laser impact on labile/photosensitive modifications – thus being a "natural" complement to MALDI-ToF analysis.

Synthetic oligonucleotide purification is particularly challenging because of the small differences in size, charge and hydrophobicity between the full-length product and impurities, which often co-elute.

For improved analysis of complex samples like long and/or multiple labeled oligos, metabion offers liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The mass spectrometer is connected to a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system, which allows premium analyte characterization via chromatographical separation, followed by respective molecular weight determination. With this system, the mass of oligonucleotides between 2 and 220 bases can be analysed with high accuracy, resolution and sensitivity. Our expert production team will take care of the method (MALDI or ESI ToF) that best applies to your sample.

Preparative High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) deals with isolating the separated components of a sample, and can be done on small-, mid- and large scale operations. In other words, the objective of a preparative HPLC is isolating and purifying a product. Practically, the sample goes from the detector into a fraction collector or it is collected manually.

Analytical HPLC refers to the processes of separating and identifying the components of a sample. It is usually a small-scale process, whose objective is the qualitative and quantitative determination of a compound. The sample goes from the detector into waste.

metabion offers analytical HPLC as an additional (optional) quality control method, complementing our Mass-Check QC, which is performed by default on all our oligos.

For product/quality documentation please see FAQ: What kind of documentation do I get with my RNA oligos?

There are two ways of ordering:

1. The preferred way is order transmission through our Web Order Portal for most convenient online shopping.
2. You can order by sending us an e-mail with our pre-formatted excel order file as attachment. Download respective Order Form
   

   Light Cycler®	download xlsx »
   Also available in our web order system (WOP)

   When you write your email, please make sure to address the following questions in the excel template:
   
   
   • Name of the LC®probe?
   • Sequence of the LC®probe in 5’-3’ orientation?
   • Yield scale
   • Delivery form? (dry / in water/ buffer + concentration)
   • Modifications?

   If you are a new customer, please additionally provide us with

   • Your shipping and billing address
   • Any other information like Purchase Order number, VAT number (VAT only for customers resident in the EU) etc

In case you opt to transmit orders via email using your own format(s), we need to alert you that above mentioned information in bold print is obligatory for processing your order. Due to extra efforts necessary for individual order format transfer into our system, order processing will take longer as compared to preferred web orders and pre-formatted emails.

If you want to connect your eProcurement System with our Web Order Portal (e.g. OCI - Open Catalog Interface), please simply contact our Customer Service (customerservice@metabion.com).

Confirmation

Online orders or email orders which indicate an email address will be confirmed by email.

Delivery

Our default shipping mode is sending by Express service overnight at EURO 4.20 per shipment within Germany. If the value of your order is > EURO 125,00 shipping within Germany is free of charge!
For other countries please see our shipping table.

Average in-house turnover times (freight forwarders delivery time not included):

• LC®probes: 4-5 working days

Above mentioned estimated turnover times are only indications and refer to our standard portfolio. In terms of "counting" working days, orders placed past 15:00 (Munich time) are considered to be next day's order. Major deviations will be communicated timely. Be assured that we try to process your order as quick as possible without compromising on quality!

All our products are offered according to our terms and conditions.

The label on the probe tube shows basic information like oligo name, name of person who ordered, probe sequence including modifications, probe ID, amount of DNA (OD₂₆₀ and nmol), Tm, and molecular weight.

In addition, you will receive a synthesis report containing more detailed information on the physical-chemical properties of the oligo, such as base composition, base count, purification grade, amount of DNA (OD₂₆₀ and nmol), Tm and molecular weight. LC®probes are always HPLC purified and you will also get a printout of the preparative chromatogram.

The following terminology is used for differentiating between offered QC options including respective documentation coverage in our order forms and on supporting documents delivered with the products:

Mass Check
Standard quality control performed on each and every oligo. Either MALDI- or ESI-ToF, subject to the "nature of the oligo", and metabion internal procedures. This service is free of charge and you will receive a hard copy of the Mass Check trace.

Mass Check + Analytical HPLC
Explicitly ordered and performed Mass Check (MALDI-ToF or ESI-ToF subject to the "nature of the oligo" and metabion internal procedures) and Analytical HPLC (see FAQ: What´s the difference between preparative and analytical HPLC?). Product delivered with analytical HPLC and MS traces. Additional charges apply.