A modified nucleotide structure called a "cap" is present on the 5´ end of most naturally occurring eukaryotic mRNAs and many viral RNAs. When a Cap Analog is substituted for a portion of the GTP present in an in vitro transcription reaction, >80% of the transcripts will have a cap on their 5´ end.
The cap structure is involved in the initiation of protein synthesis and in mRNA processing and stability in vivo.1 Many viral RNAs are infectious only when capped, and uncapped RNAs introduced into cells via transfection or microinjection are rapidly degraded by cellular RNases.2,3 Therefore, RNA prepared for microinjection into oocytes or for transfection into eukaryotic cells should be capped. Transcripts synthesized for use in in vitro RNA splicing experiments may also need to be capped. The trimethylated cap analog, m32,2,7G[5´]ppp[5´]G is involved in RNA transport4,5 and RNA translation in nematodes.6
Storage Buffer and Concentration
Cap Analogs are provided as 20-mM solutions in sterile, deionized water adjusted to pH 7.0.
Quality Control
Each lot of Cap Analog is functionally tested as a substrate for capping an RNA transcript synthesized in an in vitro transcription reaction.
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