Why It’s Time to Replace Your Protein-based RNase Inhibitor
Preserving RNA integrity is essential in molecular biology workflows, and RNase inhibitors are a critical part of that process. But if you’re still relying on a traditional protein-based recombinant inhibitor, it could be costing you more than you think – in both performance and budget. Here’s why it’s time to switch to a smarter alternative:
1. High Cost, Low Return
Recombinant protein-based RNase inhibitors are costly to produce, purify, and stabilize, and those expenses often get passed on to researchers. Add cold-chain logistics and a limited shelf life, and the total cost climbs even higher. Synthetic alternatives, on the other hand, deliver comparable RNA protection at a much lower price point – making high-quality science more accessible and budget-friendly!
2. Batch-to-Batch Inconsistency
One of the major limitations of protein-based RNase inhibitors is variability. Even with strict manufacturing controls, protein expression systems can introduce fluctuations in:
- Yield
- Purity
- Activity
These inconsistencies can cause troubleshooting delays and undermine the reproducibility of experiments or diagnostic results. In regulated environments, such variability isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a potential compliance risk.
3. Thermal Instability
Most recombinant RNase inhibitors start to lose activity above 37°C – a critical limitation for workflows such as:
- Isothermal amplification (e.g., LAMP)
- High-temperature reverse transcription
- Room-temperature shipping or storage
Once denatured, these inhibitors can no longer block RNase activity, putting your RNA at risk of rapid degradation and resulting in failed reactions or lost samples. Synthetic inhibitors avoid this issue entirely, maintaining full functionality across a wider temperature range.
4. Less hands-on time
Using a synthetic RNase inhibitor like the SEQURNA™ RNase Inhibitor Thermostable simplifies your workflow – you only need to add it to the lysis buffer, with no need to add it again during the reverse transcription step. Thanks to its heat stability, it remains active throughout the process.
The Bottom Line
Protein-based RNase inhibitors have played an important role in molecular biology for years – but scientific and manufacturing advancements have raised the bar. Today’s synthetic RNase inhibitors deliver:
✅ Superior thermal stability
✅ Lower overall cost
✅ Consistent performance across batches
✅ Streamlined, user-friendly protocols
If your workflows or products rely on RNA integrity, it’s time to ask: why continue using an outdated solution?
Ready to Upgrade?
Thinking about making the switch to a next-generation RNase inhibitor?
We’d be happy to help – get in touch for performance data, samples, or a side-by-side comparison.
Get in contact with our expert: Aude Roqueirol
SEQURNA RNase Inhibitor Thermostable – Securing RNA for Sequencing