Using the Experion Automated Electrophoresis System to Assess RNA Quality and Quantity in siRNA-Induced Gene Silencing Experiments

northern blots or more extensive analyses using microarrays, can also be used. For these latter methods, the isolation and quantitation of intact total RNA are prerequisites for successfully measuring the level of reduction of the mRNA transcript associated with the siRNA treatment. In this article, we discuss how the Experion automated electrophoresis system, which uses microfluidics technology, can be incorporated into an RNAi experimental workflow. Further, we show that the qualitative and quantitative RNA sample information that is obtained using this system is beneficial to the successful evaluation and validation of the efficacy of siRNA-mediated gene silencing.