EZ Reverse Transcriptase

An engineered reverse transcriptase purpose-built for first-strand cDNA synthesis in next-generation sequencing workflows, QIAGEN's EZ Reverse Transcriptase operates on a modified M-MLV backbone with reduced RNase H activity. The enzyme retains processivity at 50°C, enabling efficient read-through of GC-rich and highly structured RNA templates that commonly stall conventional reverse transcriptases and compromise coverage of 5' transcript ends.

Developed for the UNGS_UNIVERSAL NGS portfolio, the enzyme supports low-input and single-cell RNA-seq library preparation, where full-length cDNA yield and run-to-run reproducibility directly affect downstream data quality. It is supplied in a single tube format and accepts total RNA, poly(A)+ mRNA, or fragmented RNA templates as input. Compatible priming strategies include random hexamers, oligo-dT, and gene-specific primers, supporting a standard 20 µL reaction setup.

Synthesized cDNA can be processed directly with adapter ligation or tagmentation-based methods such as QIAseq Stranded RNA-seq. The enzyme is also suitable for quantitative RT-PCR, full-length cDNA cloning, and template generation for targeted sequencing panels. Storage at -20°C in a non-frost-free freezer is recommended; aliquot upon first use to minimize freeze-thaw cycles and preserve activity across multiple runs.