Roche launches new protein melting application for real-time PCR LightCycler 1536 instrument

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today the introduction of a new protein melting application for its high-throughput, real-time PCR LightCycler® 1536 instrument. The fully automated platform now allows life science researchers to perform thermal shift assays (TSAs) in 1536-well applications quickly and consistently. This new application has relevance for biotech and pharmaceutical firms, Contract Research Organizations and large academic research groups.

Previewed at the recent Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) 2015 conference in Washington, DC, the new capability makes the LightCycler 1536 instrument the first 1536-well PCR instrument capable of performing thermal shift assays.

"Now researchers who currently run protein thermal shift assays on Roche's LightCycler 480 instrument, using 96- or 384-well throughput, can also run these reactions on the LightCycler 1536 instrument," said Rama Badugu, PhD, application support consultant, Roche Life Science. "That enables them to increase throughput while reducing the amount of protein used in the reaction, which is a key benefit of the LightCycler platform."

An optimal reaction for protein melting requires a reliable heat source and detection without time delays before reading the fluorescence of the plate. The proprietary Therma-Base technology that is common to LightCycler instruments allows for uniform temperature distribution across the block, without any intermediate hold times. LightCycler instruments can heat as quickly as 4.8 degrees Celsius per second, which improves speed and accuracy in protein melt results.