Visualize Gene Expression & Genetic Variations in Tissues: Applications of RNAscope® and BaseScopeTM ISH technology

The nervous system consists of numerous specialized cell types that remain to fully cataloged and
characterized at the molecular level. Due to the high degree of structural and functional
heterogeneity and the intricate spatial organization of these cells, it is of special importance to
analyze gene expression in the presence of full morphological and spatial contexts. Due to the lack
of specific antibody reagents, especially for lncRNAs, G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and ion
channels, mapping of specific transcripts by in situ hybridization offers an excellent alternative
approach. The RNAscope® assay provides a powerful method to detect gene expression within the
spatial and morphological tissue context. BaseScopeTM is a novel in situ hybridization technology
that allows visualization of splice junctions between adjacent exons and/or retained introns in highly
specific and sensitive manner, allowing characterization of alternative splicing and circular RNAs in
cells and tissues.
RNAscope® and BaseScopeTM assays, the two highly specific and sensitive ISH methods allow
visualizing gene expression and genetic variations in tissue environments.

  • Detection, characterization, and (co-)localization of mRNAs in the central and peripheral
    nervous system:
  • Co-expression with specific cell type markers
  • Sub-cellular localization of mRNA expression in cell body, axons or dendrites
  • Validation of target mRNA expression after high-throughput transcriptome analysis
  • Detection of mRNA in the nervous system when no (reliable) antibodies are available,
    including GPCRs and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)
  • Validation of (cell type-specific) genetic modifications including knock-out models or
    transgene expression
  • Characterization of specific alternatively spliced variants in single cells
  • Visualizing expression of circular RNAs at subcellular level in tissue environment