TaqMan™ Cells-to-CT™ HepatoExpress™ Kit

The TaqMan™ Cells-to-CT™ HepatoExpress Kit is a hepatocyte gene expression kit designed for RNA extraction-free RT-qPCR. It enables fast, direct lysis of primary hepatocytes, eliminating the need for RNA purification while reducing sample preparation time to ~10 minutes.

This streamlined cell-to-CT workflow allows researchers to perform high-sensitivity gene expression analysis directly from cells, without columns, beads, or centrifugation. The result is reliable, reproducible RT-qPCR data with significantly reduced hands-on time.

Optimized specifically for primary hepatocyte models—including ECM-overlay cultures—the kit supports high-throughput, automation-compatible workflows for drug metabolism, toxicity studies, and mechanistic research.

Key Benefits

Fast, Extraction-Free Gene Expression Workflow

• Perform RT-qPCR without RNA isolation or purification
• Reduce RNA preparation time from hours to ~10 minutes
• Direct lysis workflow minimizes sample handling and variability

High-Quality RT-qPCR Performance

• Sensitivity and reproducibility comparable to purified RNA workflows
• Preserves RNA integrity during lysis
• Compatible with multiplex qPCR and low-input samples

Optimized for Primary Hepatocytes

• Efficient lysis of hepatocytes, including ECM-overlay cultures
• Consistent performance across hepatocyte species and models
• Designed for challenging in vitro liver systems

Automation-Ready and Scalable

• Compatible with 96-well plate formats and robotic liquid handling systems
• An ideal choice for high-throughput screening and large-scale studies
• Room-temperature workflow simplifies lab integration

Sustainable and Simplified Workflow

• Significantly reduces plastic consumables associated with RNA purification
• REACH-compliant reagents support environmentally responsible lab practices

Designed for Hepatocyte Gene Expression Challenges

Primary hepatocytes are widely used for drug metabolism, CYP450 induction, and toxicity studies, but efficient RNA extraction from these cells—especially in ECM-overlay cultures—can be difficult and time-consuming.

The HepatoExpress Kit addresses these challenges with a direct lysis chemistry that:

• Effectively penetrates extracellular matrix (ECM) overlays
• Protects RNA during lysis without purification
• Maintains compatibility with reverse transcription and qPCR

This enables accurate gene expression analysis without the variability introduced by traditional RNA extraction workflows.

Applications

The HepatoExpress Kit is an ideal choice for:

• Hepatocyte gene expression analysis
• CYP450 induction assays
• Drug metabolism and ADME studies
• Toxicology and safety screening
• Target verification and early-stage compound screening
• Mechanistic studies in liver biology

Scalable from Discovery to High-Throughput Screening

Whether performing small-scale mechanistic studies or large-scale screening, the kit supports flexible experimental design. Its automation-friendly format enables seamless integration into high-throughput workflows, improving reproducibility and throughput.

Workflow: From Cells to qPCR in ~75 Minutes

The simple three-step workflow enables rapid gene expression analysis:

1. Cell lysis (~10 minutes, room temperature)
   • Simultaneous cell lysis, RNA preservation, and genomic DNA removal
2. Reverse transcription
   • cDNA synthesis using SuperScript™ IV VILO™ Master Mix
3. qPCR detection
   • Sensitive, multiplex-capable amplification using TaqMan™ Gene Expression Assays

Compatible with 700,000+ TaqMan™ Gene Expression Assays, enabling broad pathway and target coverage.

Why Choose an RNA Extraction-Free qPCR Workflow?

Compared to traditional column-based RNA isolation methods, the HepatoExpress Kit:

• Reduces workflow time from hours to minutes
• Minimizes sample loss and variability
• Reduces multiple handling steps that can degrade RNA
• Improves consistency across replicates and experiments

The TaqMan™ Cells-to-CT™ HepatoExpress Kit is a fast, reliable, and scalable solution for primary hepatocyte gene expression analysis. By enabling direct, RNA extraction-free RT-qPCR, it simplifies workflows while maintaining high data quality—making it excellent for modern drug discovery and in vitro liver research.