Absolute Human Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Quantification qPCR Assay Kit

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is circular, multicopy genome DNA located in mitochondrion, a cellular organelle that plays a key role in the energy production. The capacity for energy production in a cell depends on both mtDNA integrity and copy number. Substantial evidence suggests that alterations in mtDNA copy number has been correlated with aging and various age-related disorders, such as cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.

ScienCell's Absolute Human Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Quantification qPCR Assay Kit (AHMQ) is designed to quantify the average mtDNA copy number of a human cell population. The mtDNA primer set recognizes and amplifies one of the most conserved regions on human mtDNA and will not amplify any off-target sequence on nuclear genomic DNA. The single copy reference (SCR) primer set recognizes and amplifies a 100 bp-long region on human chromosome 17 and serves as reference for data normalization. The reference genomic DNA sample with known mtDNA copy number serves as a reference for calculating the mtDNA copy number of target samples. The carefully designed primers ensure: (i) high efficiency for trustworthy quantification; and (ii) no non-specific amplification. Each primer set has been validated by qPCR with melt curve analysis and gel electrophoresis for amplification specificity and by template serial dilution for amplification efficiency.