Thermo Scientific Reverse Transcription

Reverse transcription (RT) is a widely used application in molecular biology research for RNA and expression analysis. The Thermo Scientific reverse transcription portfolio offers robust and reliable reverse transcriptases in a variety of optimized formats for efficiency in RT-PCR and RT-qPCR applications.

Thermo Scientific reverse transcription products

Selecting the right RT for cDNA synthesis is critical to detecting low-abundance RNAs or dealing with RNA that contains high amounts of secondary structure. Considerations for selecting the RT should include sensitivity and thermostability (ability to perform at higher temperature).

Reverse transcriptases

Stand-alone enzymes engineered for optimal cDNA synthesis

	Enhanced performance		Routine performance
Product	Maxima H Minus Reverse Transcriptase	Maxima Reverse Transcriptase	RevertAid H Minus Reverse Transcriptase	RevertAid Reverse Transcriptase
Active temperature range	50–65 ^oC	50–65 ^oC	42–55 ^oC	42–50 ^oC
RNase H activity	No	Yes	No	Yes
Reaction time	15-30 min	15-30 min	60 min	60 min
Sensitivity (total RNA)	1 pg	1 pg	0.1 ng	0.1 ng
Maximum cDNA length	20 kb	20 kb	13 kb	13 kb

Ordering information

First strand cDNA synthesis kits/master mixes

Complete kits for efficient and reproducible first strand cDNA synthesis

	Enhanced performance		Routine performance
Product	Maxima H Minus First Strand cDNA Synthesis Master Mixes	Maxima First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit	RevertAid H Minus First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit	RevertAid First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit
Active temperature range	50–65 ^oC	50–65 ^oC	42–55 ^oC	42–50 ^oC
RNase H activity	No	Yes	No	Yes
Reaction time	15-30 min	15-30 min	60 min	60 min
Formats with dsDNase*	Yes	Yes	N/A	N/A
Sensitivity (total RNA)	1 pg	1 pg	0.1 ng	0.1 ng
Maximum cDNA length	20 kb	20 kb	13 kb	13 kb
* dsDNase step is a quick (2 min) and easy gDNA removal step prior to RT step.