UChicago Spin-Out AccuraDX Launches KAS-seq Research Kits: ‘A New Way to Study Important Biological Processes and Regulatory Pathways’

KAS-seq research kit

The KAS-Direct™ ssDNA Labeling and Enrichment Kit, Version 1. (Image credit: AccuraDX)

A University of Chicago spin-out company AccuraDX this week has launched its KAS-Direct™ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) Labeling and Enrichment Kit.

Founded in 2020, the company, which is headquartered in Natick, MA with an additional laboratory in Chicago, IL, earlier this year launched the key molecule N3-kethoxal (azide kethoxal) and borate buffer for researchers to perform KAS-seq and Keth-seq experiments and now offers the KAS-Direct™ kit for KAS-seq research. It also is looking to expand its offerings for biological and clinical applications.

The kit will enable researchers to perform ssDNA labeling and enrichment in bulk live cells and fresh or frozen tissues. It is suitable for both researchers with less experience to next-generation sequencing (NGS) library construction as well as experienced genomics researchers. Currently, most scientists would need at least three or four other technologies to get the same level of information that one can get from a KAS-seq experiment.

“KAS-seq provides a simple but robust method to directly readout transcription and enhancer activity genome-wide using limited materials.”

Chuan He, John T. Wilson Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago and scientific founder of AccuraDX

As He explained, the technology can be applied to live cells, frozen tissues, or even live animals – and can provide temporal information as well. “It should have wide application scope,” said He. According to the company, the kit allows for up to 16 cell or tissue samples to be assayed and when coupled with a compatible library construction kit and NGS, the full KAS-seq method can be performed.

“KAS-seq is a totally new technology for genome-wide mapping ssDNA, and the KAS-Direct kit aims to lower the barrier for scientists to use it in their labs,” said Diana West-Szymanski, vice president of operations and staff scientist at the University of Chicago. “Both experienced researchers and newcomers with little-to-no experience with next-generation sequencing methods will be now able to perform the key labeling and enrichment steps of KAS-seq easily. AccuraDX is the exclusive licensee of the technology and there are no other kits available to perform KAS-seq on the market.”

The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation secured the intellectual property protection for the novel technology developed at the University of Chicago and executed the license agreement with AccuraDX.

“With our first KAS-Direct kit in the market, scientists can now conveniently obtain the genome-wide information of both active transcription and active enhancers using DNA as the only starting material,” added Ye Fu, vice president of research and development at AccuraDX. “This kit offers a new way to study important biological processes and regulatory pathways that could result in novel insights for researchers.”

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