Technical Data Sheet
KAPA SYBR® FAST Bio-Rad
iCycler™ One-Step qRT-PCR Kit
KR0395 – v3.15
Product Description
The KAPA SYBR FAST One-Step qRT-PCR Kit, optimized
for the Bio-Rad iCycler, is a sensitive and convenient
solution for real-time PCR using RNA as template. The kit
comprises KAPA SYBR FAST Master Mix (2X), KAPA RT
Mix (50X) and dUTP (10 mM). The KAPA RT Mix comprises
wild-type M-MuLV Reverse Transcriptase and RNase
Inhibitor, and is optimized for rapid one-step, one-tube
RNA quantification.
Kit Codes and Components
KK4670
100 x 20 µL
reactions
KAPA SYBR FAST qPCR Master Mix,
for Bio-Rad iCycler (2X)
dUTP (10 mM)
KAPA RT Mix (50X)
1 mL
40 µL
40 µL
KK4671
500 x 20 µL
reactions
KAPA SYBR FAST qPCR Master Mix,
for Bio-Rad iCycler (2X)
dUTP (10 mM)
KAPA RT Mix (50X))
5 mL
200 µL
200 µL
KAPA SYBR FAST qPCR Master Mix,
KK4672
for Bio-Rad iCycler (2X)
1000 x 20 µL
dUTP (10 mM)
reactions
KAPA RT Mix (50X))
10 mL
400 µL
400 µL
Quick Notes
KAPA SYBR FAST qPCR Master Mix is designed for highperformance real-time PCR. The kit contains a novel DNA
polymerase engineered via a process of directed evolution.
The result is a unique enzyme, specifically designed for
qPCR using SYBR Green I dye chemistry. The 2X Master
Mix is a ready-to-use cocktail containing all components,
except primers and template, for the amplification and
detection of cDNA on Bio-Rad real-time instruments that
support normalization with fluorescein reference dye at a
final concentration of 10 nM.
• This kit contains wild-type M-MuLV and an
engineered enzyme optimized for qPCR using
SYBR Green I dye chemistry.
The use of dUTP at the recommended final concentration
results in amplicons that can be degraded using UracilDNA Glycosylase (UDG). UDG treatment is performed in
subsequent reactions in order to minimize carryover PCR
contamination downstream. Use of dUTP in this system is
optional—UDG is not supplied in the kit.
• Optimal cDNA synthesis is achieved at 42°C for
5 min.
Product Applications
KAPA SYBR FAST One-Step qRT-PCR Kits are ideally
suited for:
• Gene expression analysis
• Low-copy gene detection
• Microarray validation
• Gene knockdown validation
• RNAi and miRNA research
Product Specifications
Shipping and Storage
Upon arrival, store kit components protected from light
at -20°C in a constant-temperature freezer. When stored
under these conditions and handled correctly, the master
mix will retain full activity until the expiry date indicated on
the kit label.
Effective date: June 2015
• The 2X Master Mix contains a proprietary buffer.
Together with the novel enzyme, this improves
amplification efficiency of both GC- and AT-rich
targets.
• Use only gene-specific primers for one-step qRTPCR.
• 3 min at 95°C is sufficient for RT inactivation and
DNA polymerase activation.
• For 3-step cycling, use 20 sec for primer annealing
and 1 sec for extension/data acquisition at 72°C.
• Do not exceed 25 µL reaction volumes.
Handling
Minimize exposure of the KAPA SYBR FAST qPCR Master
Mix to direct light. Always ensure that the product has
been fully thawed and mixed before use. The KAPA RT
Mix is temperature-sensitive, and should be stored at
-20°C and kept on ice during use.
Quality Control
Kit components are free of contaminating DNase and
RNase. KAPA SYBR FAST qPCR Master Mix is functionally
tested by generating a standard curve with human
genomic DNA as template, with a dynamic range of
5 orders of magnitude, a reaction efficiency of 90 – 110%,
and a correlation coefficient >0.99.
1
KAPA SYBR® FAST Bio-Rad iCycler™
One-Step qRT-PCR Kit
One-Step qRT-PCR Protocol
Technical Data Sheet
3. Perform One-Step qRT-PCR
Any existing one-step qRT-PCR assay performed
efficiently using standard cycling conditions may be
converted to a fast, one-step qRT-PCR assay with KAPA
SYBR FAST One-Step qRT-PCR Kits. Typically, minimal
re-optimization of reaction parameters is required.
• If applicable, select fast mode on the
instrument.
Step
Temp
Duration
Cycles
This protocol is intended for use with the Bio-Rad iCycler
iQ®, iQ™5, and MyiQ™ real-time PCR detection systems.
Reverse
Transcription1
42°C
5 min
Hold
Enzyme
inactivation
95°C
3 min
Hold
Denaturation
95°C
3 sec
Annealing/
extension/data
acquisition2
60°C
≥ 20 sec3
• Program the following cycling protocol:
1. Prepare qPCR master mix
• Ensure all reaction components are properly
thawed and mixed.
• Keep the KAPA RT Mix on ice during use, and
assembled reactions on ice to avoid premature
cDNA synthesis.
• Prepare a PCR master mix containing the
appropriate volume of all reaction components
common to all or a subset of reactions to be
performed.
• Include a No Template Control (NTC) and No
RT Control (NRT) when necessary. The NTC
will enable detection of contamination in
the reaction components, while the NRT will
enable detection of contaminating gDNA.
• Calculate the required volume of each
component based on the following table:
Component
20 µL rxn1
Final conc.
Up to 20 µL
N/A
2X KAPA SYBR FAST
qPCR Master Mix2
10 µL
1X
10 mM dUTP (optional)
0.4 µL
0.2 mM
10 µM Forward Primer
0.4 µL
200 nM
10 µM Reverse Primer
0.4 µL
200 nM
50X KAPA RT Mix
0.4 µL
1X
As required
<100 ng
PCR-grade water
Template RNA
3
1
eaction volumes may be adjusted between 3 – 25 µL, depending on
R
the block type used. Reaction volumes >25 µL are not recommended.
2
APA SYBR FAST qPCR Master Mix contains MgCl2 at a final
K
concentration of 2.5 mM.
3
emplate RNA input of 1 pg – 100 ng total RNA is recommended. For
T
more information, refer to Important Parameters: Template.
2. Set up individual reactions
• Transfer the appropriate volumes of qPCR
master mix, template and primers to each well
of a PCR tube/plate.
• Cap or seal the reaction tube/plate and
centrifuge briefly.
2
Dissociation
40
According to instrument guidelines
1
min at 42°C is sufficient for cDNA synthesis for most assays.
5
For difficult assays, this may be increased to 10 min.
2
or 3-step cycling protocols, anneal at optimal annealing temperature
F
for 20 sec followed by the minimum time required for data acquisition
at 72°C according to instrument guidelines.
3
Select shortest time possible for instrument, but not less than 20 sec.
4. Analyze results
• Data analysis is dependent on experimental
design. Refer to your instrument guidelines
for more information on how to perform the
appropriate data analysis.
Important Parameters
Template RNA
Starting template of purified total RNA can range between
1 pg – 100 ng per 20 µL reaction. Using greater amounts
of template may increase the background fluorescence,
which reduces linearity of standard curves after
background subtraction. Digest purified RNA with RNasefree DNase I to remove contaminating genomic DNA
which can act as template during PCR. DNase treatment
should be performed according to manufacturer’s
instructions. Treated RNA should be stored at -20°C or
-80°C in RNase-free water. Multiple freeze-thaws of RNA
should be avoided.
Fluorescein Reference Dye
For certain real-time PCR cyclers, the presence of a
reference dye in real-time PCR compensates for non-PCR–
related variations in fluorescence detection. Fluorescence
from the reference dye does not change during the course
of real-time PCR, but provides a stable baseline against
which PCR-related fluorescent signals are normalized.
Thus, the dye compensates for differences in fluorescence
detection between wells due to slight variations in
reaction volume or differences in well position. The use of
fluorescein reference dye is necessary for Bio-Rad iCycler
iQ®, iQ™5, and MyiQ™ instruments and is included in the
Master Mix at a final concentration of 10 nM. The presence
of the fluorescein dye in the master mix does not interfere
with real-time PCR on any instrument, since the dye is not
involved in the reaction.
KAPA SYBR® FAST Bio-Rad iCycler™
One-Step qRT-PCR Kit
Primers
Careful primer design and purification (HPLC-purified
primers are recommended) will minimize loss in
sensitivity due to non-specific amplification. This effect
becomes more prominent at low target concentrations.
To maximize the sensitivity of the assay, use the lowest
primer concentration that does not compromise reaction
efficiency (50 – 400 nM of each primer). For optimal
results, design primers that amplify PCR products
70 – 200 bp in length. Use appropriate primer design
software to design primers with a melting temperature
(Tm) of approximately 60°C to take advantage of twostep cycling. Primers must be carefully designed to avoid
detection and amplification of genomic DNA, which
would lead to inaccurate mRNA quantification. To prevent
gDNA amplification, design forward and reverse primers
from different exons, or to span exon-intron boundaries.
KAPA RT Mix
KAPA RT Mix (50X) contains an optimized blend of
wild-type M-MuLV Reverse Transcriptase and RNase
Inhibitor. M-MuLV RT has a high affinity for RNA and
is optimized for cDNA synthesis at 42°C. The RNase
Inhibitor safeguards against degradation of RNA target
due to RNase contamination. KAPA RT Mix (50X) must
be stored at -20°C as the enzymes are not thermostable.
dUTP
Use of dUTP allows treatment with uracil-DNA glycosylase
(UDG) if required to prevent carryover contamination
in subsequent reactions. dUTP can be used at final
concentrations that range from 0.2 – 0.4 mM. Do not use
UDG in one-step qRT-PCR, as the UDG will degrade the
cDNA upon synthesis.
Melting Curve Analysis
Following real-time qPCR, melting curve analysis should
always be performed to identify the presence of primerdimers and analyze the specificity of the reaction.
Program your thermocycler according to the instructions
provided.
Technical Data Sheet
Note to Purchaser: Limited License
Certain applications of this product are covered by patents issued to
parties other than Kapa Biosystems and applicable in certain countries.
Purchase of this product does not include a license to perform any
such applications. Users of this product may therefore be required to
obtain a patent license depending upon the particular application and
country in which the product is used.
Use of this product is covered by one or more of the following US
patents and corresponding patent claims outside the US: 5,994,056,
6,171,785, and 5,928,907 (claim numbers 12-24, 27-28). The purchase
of this product includes a limited, non-transferable immunity from suit
under the foregoing patent claims for using only this amount of product
for the purchaser’s own internal research. No right under any other
patent claim (such as apparatus or system claims in US Patent No.
6,814,934) and no right to perform commercial services of any kind,
including without limitation reporting the results of purchaser’s activities
for a fee or other commercial consideration, is conveyed expressly,
by implication, or by estoppel. This product is for research use only.
Diagnostic uses under Roche patents require a separate license from
Roche. Further information on purchasing licenses may be obtained by
contacting the Director of Licensing, Applied Biosystems, 850 Lincoln
Centre Drive, Foster City, California 94404, USA.
This product is provided under an agreement between Life Technologies
Corporation and Kapa Biosystems Inc. The manufacture, use, sale or
import of this product is subject to one or more of U.S. Patent Nos.
5,436,134; 5,658,751 and corresponding international equivalents,
owned by Life Technologies Corporation. The purchase of this product
conveys to the buyer the non-transferable right to use the purchased
amount of the product and components of the product in research
conducted by the buyer, where such research does not include
testing, analysis or screening services for any third party in return for
compensation on a per test basis. The buyer cannot sell or otherwise
transfer (a) this product (b) its components or (c) materials made using
this product or its components to a third party or otherwise use this
product or its components or materials made using this product or its
components for Commercial Purposes. Commercial Purposes means
any activity by a party for consideration and may include, but is not
limited to: (1) use of the product or its components in manufacturing; (2)
use of the product or its components to provide a service, information,
or data; (3) use of the product or its components for therapeutic,
diagnostic or prophylactic purposes; or (4) resale of the product or its
components, whether or not such product or its components are resold
for use in research. For information on purchasing a license to this
product for purposes other than research, contact Life Technologies
Corporation, 5791 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, CA 92008 USA or
outlicensing@lifetech.com.
Licensed under U.S. Patent nos. 5,338,671 and 5,587,287 and
corresponding patents in other countries.
The purchase of this product includes a limited, non-transferable
license under specific claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,174,670, 6,569,627
and 5,871,908, owned by the University of Utah Research Foundation
or Evotec Biosystems GmbH and licensed to Idaho Technology, Inc.
and Roche Diagnostics GmbH, to use only the enclosed amount of
product according to the specified protocols. No right is conveyed,
expressly, by implication, or by estoppel, to use any instrument or
system under any claim of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,174,670, 6,569,627 and
5,871,908, other than for the amount of product contained herein.
SYBR is a registered trademark of Life Technologies Corporation.
iCycler iQ, iQ5, and MyiQ are trademarks of Bio-Rad.
3
KAPA SYBR® FAST Bio-Rad iCycler™
One-Step qRT-PCR Kit
Technical Data Sheet
Troubleshooting
Symptoms
Possible Causes
Solutions
Positive signal in no-template control
(NTC) or no-RT control (NRT)
RNA template contaminated with
genomic DNA
Take standard precautions to avoid contamination
during reaction setup. Treat RNA sample with
RNase-free DNase I.
Primer-dimer formation
Resynthesize or redesign primers. HPLC
purification of primers greatly reduces dimer
formation and increases sensitivity. Adjust primer
concentration and annealing temperature to
prevent dimer formation.
Low fluorescence intensity
Incorrect handling
SYBR Green I dye is light sensitive; avoid
exposure to light and repeated freeze-thaw
cycles. Always thaw and mix solutions thoroughly
before use.
No product detected during qPCR,
melting curve analysis or agarose gel
electrophoresis
Incorrect cycling protocol was used
Ensure that the cycling protocol contains the
cDNA synthesis step, and that the correct
fluorescent detection channel is selected.
Pipetting error or missing reagent
Ensure that correct reagents have been used.
Template RNA contains inhibitors, or is
degraded
Re-purify or re-isolate template RNA.
Incorrect primer design or annealing
temperature
Verify primer design. Lower annealing
temperature in 2°C increments.
Amplicon is too long
Optimal results are obtained with amplicons of
70 – 200 bp.
PCR annealing/extension time is too
short
This kit requires a minimum of 20 sec annealing
followed by 1 sec extension at 72°C for optimal
performance.
Template contains inhibitors or is
degraded
Re-purify or re-isolate template RNA.
Sub-optimal primer design or annealing
temperature
Redesign primers.
Product detected later than expected
Poor low-copy number sensitivity
HPLC purification of primers greatly reduces
primer-dimer problems and increases sensitivity.
Adjust primer concentration and Tm.
Ensure that the correct cycling parameters were
used.
High baseline fluorescence
Headquarters, United States
Wilmington, Massachusetts
Tel: 781.497.2933
Fax: 781.497.2934
sales@kapabiosystems.com
Starting amount of template is too high
Manufacturing, R&D
Cape Town, South Africa
Tel: +27.21.448.8200
Fax: +27.21.448.6503
sales@kapabiosystems.com
For technical support, please contact support@kapabiosystems.com
4
Reduce the amount of template in the reaction.
UK Sales
London, England
Tel: +44.845.512.0641
Fax: +44.203.745.5862
uksales@kapabiosystems.com