Zymo Research
Encyclopedia
History
Zymo Research Corporation was found by Larry Jia in 1994. The company started its home base in Orange, CAOrange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
, manufacturing products for DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
and RNA
RNA
Ribonucleic acid , or RNA, is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life....
extraction and purification and other specialty products for E. coli and yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
based research. Since then, it has expanded its product offerings to include tools for Epigenetics
Epigenetics
In biology, and specifically genetics, epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence – hence the name epi- -genetics...
research.
As of December 2010, the privately held company has relocated its headquartered operations to Irvine, CA
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
.
Products
The company is a supplier of DNA extractionDNA extraction
DNA isolation is a routine procedure to collect DNA for subsequent molecular or forensic analysis. There are three basic and two optional steps in a DNA extraction:...
and RNA extraction
RNA extraction
RNA extraction is the purification of RNA from biological samples. This procedure is complicated by the ubiquitous presence of ribonuclease enzymes in cells and tissues, which can rapidly degrade RNA...
kit products used to isolate and purify DNA and RNA from various sample sources ranging from tough to lyse environmental samples to tissue, blood, and serum samples. They have expanded in recent years and today have emerged as an Epigenetics
Epigenetics
In biology, and specifically genetics, epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence – hence the name epi- -genetics...
company, offering products in DNA methylation
DNA methylation
DNA methylation is a biochemical process that is important for normal development in higher organisms. It involves the addition of a methyl group to the 5 position of the cytosine pyrimidine ring or the number 6 nitrogen of the adenine purine ring...
and DNA Hydroxymethylation.
Epigenetics Research Tools
Zymo Research offers from their EpigeneticsEpigenetics
In biology, and specifically genetics, epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence – hence the name epi- -genetics...
line-up products for CpG methylation detection and quantitation. Many of these products exploit the bisulfite conversion
Bisulfite sequencing
Bisulfite sequencing is the use of bisulfite treatment of DNA to determine its pattern of methylation. DNA methylation was the first discovered epigenetic mark, and remains the most studied...
approach, wherein unmethylated cytosine
Cytosine
Cytosine is one of the four main bases found in DNA and RNA, along with adenine, guanine, and thymine . It is a pyrimidine derivative, with a heterocyclic aromatic ring and two substituents attached . The nucleoside of cytosine is cytidine...
is converted to uracil
Uracil
Uracil is one of the four nucleobases in the nucleic acid of RNA that are represented by the letters A, G, C and U. The others are adenine, cytosine, and guanine. In RNA, uracil binds to adenine via two hydrogen bonds. In DNA, the uracil nucleobase is replaced by thymine.Uracil is a common and...
, allowing for downstream sequencing analysis. The company also offers polymerases optimized for PCR analysis of bisulfite-converted DNA, as well as antibodies for IP-based epigenetics
Epigenetics
In biology, and specifically genetics, epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence – hence the name epi- -genetics...
research.
In addition to their methylation portfolio, Zymo Research recently began to offer product lines for analysis of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine
5-Hydroxymethylcytosine
5-Hydroxymethylcytosine is a DNA pyrimidine nitrogen base. It is formed from the DNA base cytosine by adding a methyl group and then a hydroxy group. It is important in epigenetics, because the hydroxymethyl group on the cytosine can possibly switch a gene on and off. It was first seen in...
. In late 2010, the company became the first to offer a kit for locus specific 5-hydroxymethylcytosine
5-Hydroxymethylcytosine
5-Hydroxymethylcytosine is a DNA pyrimidine nitrogen base. It is formed from the DNA base cytosine by adding a methyl group and then a hydroxy group. It is important in epigenetics, because the hydroxymethyl group on the cytosine can possibly switch a gene on and off. It was first seen in...
detection (protection, digestion, amplification).
Included in the company’s epigenetics portfolio are kits for nucleosomal DNA purification, chromatin immunoprecipitation
Chromatin immunoprecipitation
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation is a type of immunoprecipitation experimental technique used to investigate the interaction between proteins and DNA in the cell. It aims to determine whether specific proteins are associated with specific genomic regions, such as transcription factors on promoters or...
, and small RNA isolation.