RNA is the central biomolecule of life, as it connects the sequence of DNA to the production of proteins, and serves as a structural building block for critical components within the cell. Despite the importance of detecting, quantifying and sequencing RNAs in order to exploit their roles in biology and medicine, the field of RNA research remains limited by the tools available for monitoring and manipulating RNA. An enzyme called reverse transcriptase (RT) is the most foundational tool for converting RNA into cDNA, enabling sensitive detection and RNA sequencing. However, existing, commercially available RTs have significant deficiencies that limit our ability to fully exploit them as engines for analysis and sequencing. This problem has now been solved with the discovery of a powerful new ultraprocessive RT, MarathonRT (MRT). Discovered by the Pyle Lab at Yale University, MRT is an exceptionally processive RT that copies kilobase-length RNAs (such as the 30kb coronavirus genome) in a single pass without inhibition by secondary structures or repeats within an RNA template. Unlike other RTs, performance is maintained at ambient temperatures, which eliminates RNA degradation and enables reagent kits that can be deployed without refrigeration. For commercialization, a high-performance version (UltraMarathonRT (uMRT)), has been developed and will be optimized and incorporated into a suite of commercial products for the most common RT-PCR, qRT-PCR and sequencing applications. RNAConnect, Inc. was recently founded to translate this innovative scientific discovery into full-fledged commercial products that will transform research and clinical practice, underscoring the economic power of superior enzymatic ‘hardware.’

The introduction of uMRT products will, for the first time, allow the scientific community to read and detect variation within whole transcriptomes, revealing previously ‘invisible’ information that is critical for understanding all layers of biological function, from patients to single cells.