Exosomal/EV RNA Sequencing
What Is Exosomal/EV RNA Sequencing?
Exosomal/extracellular vesicle (EV) RNA sequencing enables transcriptomic profiling of cell-derived vesicles found in biofluids like plasma, serum, urine, and CSF, capturing lipid-bilayer–protected RNAs that reflect the molecular state of their cell of origin and mediate intercellular communication. EVs’ capacity to shuttle RNA cargo, including mRNAs, microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, between cells makes them crucial mediators of intercellular communication and attractive, non-invasive biomarkers for diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular disorders.
At AUGenomics, we offer highly sensitive EV RNA-seq services optimized for ultra-low input RNA, enabling researchers to explore non-invasive biomarkers and intercellular communication pathways. For small RNA-Seq, we use optimized 3′/5′ adapter ligation and size selection to enrich 20–30 nt species (miRNAs, tRNA fragments, piRNAs, Y-RNAs, snoRNA fragments), while our total EV RNA-Seq workflows employ random-primed cDNA synthesis and enzymatic rRNA depletion to profile mRNA fragments, lncRNAs, and circular RNAs. Strand-specific or unstranded options preserve transcript orientation, enabling detection of antisense regulatory RNAs and operon-like structures. Deep sequencing of EV small RNAs uncovers both canonical and novel miRNAs (including isomiRs) that serve as sensitive biomarkers of disease, therapeutic response, and tissue-specific pathology.
Advantages of Exosomal/EV RNA Sequencing
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Non-invasive Sampling: Profile disease and physiological states from biofluids (blood, urine, saliva, CSF) without tissue biopsy.
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Robust RNA Stability: Lipid-encapsulated RNAs resist nuclease degradation, improving sample handling and reproducibility.
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Diverse RNA Cargo: Simultaneously interrogate miRNAs, isomiRs, tRFs, piRNAs, Y-RNAs, mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs.
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Functional mRNA Detection: Identify exosomal mRNAs capable of translation in recipient cells—key for studying horizontal gene transfer.
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Real-Time Cellular Reflection: EVs mirror the donor cell’s molecular profile, enabling dynamic monitoring of disease onset, progression, and treatment response.
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High Sensitivity & Specificity: UMI-enabled, low-input protocols detect rare transcripts down to single-digit pg inputs.
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Scalable Throughput: Dual indexing supports hundreds of EV samples per Illumina lane—ideal for large-cohort biomarker screens.
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Wide-Ranging Applications: From oncology and neurodegeneration to cardiovascular and infectious diseases, EV RNA-Seq drives early detection, prognostics, and personalized therapeutic strategies.
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Facilitates Personalized Healthcare: Build individualized EV RNA expression profiles that guide tailored treatments and monitor efficacy with minimal invasiveness.
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Biomarker Discovery & Diagnostics: Identify exosomal miRNA and mRNA signatures for early cancer detection, neurodegenerative disease markers, and cardiovascular risk stratification.
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Prognosis & Treatment Monitoring: Track changes in EV RNA cargo to predict therapeutic response or disease recurrence.
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Intercellular Communication Studies: Map EV-mediated transfer of functional RNAs between cells in development, immunity, and tumor microenvironments.
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Non-Coding RNA Functional Analysis: Profile exosomal lncRNAs and circRNAs whose expression patterns often differ from cellular levels and regulate recipient-cell behavior.
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Liquid Biopsy Applications: Non-invasive transcriptome snapshots from plasma or urine for precision oncology and transplant rejection surveillance.
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Therapeutic Delivery Validation: Validate EV-based RNA therapeutics by sequencing delivered cargo in target tissues or biofluids.
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Cross-Species & Environmental Monitoring: Characterize EV RNAs in veterinary, agricultural, or environmental samples to study host–microbe and cross-kingdom signaling.
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Small RNA Biomarker Panels: Discover and validate isomiR profiles and tRF signatures as disease- or stress-response biomarkers.
By integrating these capabilities, AUGenomics’ Exosomal/EV RNA-Seq service provides the most comprehensive, sensitive, and informative view of vesicle-mediated communication—empowering both discovery science and translational applications.
What is Exosomal/EV RNA Sequencing Used For?
Exosomal/EV RNA Sequencing with AUGenomics
Sample Submission
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Accepted Sample Types: RNA extracted from exosomes or extracellular vesicles isolated from plasma, serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and other biofluids
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Input Requirement: As little as 1–5 ng total RNA
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Sequencing Recommendations:
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Library prep optimized for small and fragmented RNA species
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10–20 million reads/sample typical for expression profiling
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Optional spike-in controls for normalization and quantification
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Please refer to our Shipping Guidelines for project-specific guidance.
Turnaround Time
Typical turnaround is 7-10 business days from sample receipt. Expedited options are available depending on project scope and sequencing depth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What’s the difference between exosomal RNA-seq and total plasma RNA-seq?
A: Exosomal RNA-seq focuses specifically on vesicle-derived RNA, offering a cleaner and more targeted view of cell-to-cell signaling compared to total extracellular RNA.
Q: Can I use this for liquid biopsy biomarker discovery?
A: Yes. EV RNA-seq is commonly used for early cancer detection and monitoring using non-invasive samples like plasma or serum.
Q: How do you handle the low input and quality of EV RNA?
A: We use specialized kits and amplification methods designed for low-yield and fragmented RNA typical of EV preparations.
Q: Can I combine small RNA and total RNA profiling from the same EV prep?
A: Yes. We can split RNA extracts to generate both small RNA and total RNA-seq libraries, maximizing data from precious samples.
Got more questions? Contact our team and get a free consultation anytime. info@augenomics.com
Glossary of Terms
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Exosomes / EVs: Nano-sized vesicles secreted by cells into bodily fluids, carrying RNA, DNA, and proteins
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Liquid Biopsy: Non-invasive method for disease monitoring using body fluids
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Small RNA: RNAs typically shorter than 200 nucleotides, often enriched in EVs
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Normalization: Process of correcting for variability in sequencing data
