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Small RNA Modification Sequencing

m7G-Quant-Seq — Single-Nucleotide tRNA m7G Modification Seq

m7G-Quant-Seq quantifies internal N7-methylguanosine on tRNA. Targeted chemical conversion separates internal m7G from the 5' cap and records each position as a discrete signature, so the modification is detected and measured at base resolution.

Internal m7G versus cap · base-resolution quantification · antibody-free

Overview

Quantifying the internal m7G fraction on tRNA

N7-methylguanosine carries a positive charge on the modified guanine, which changes how the base behaves and how the surrounding structure folds. The complication in a tRNA project is the cap: both internal m7G and the cap share the same modified base, so a useful assay has to tell them apart before it can quantify anything.

Arraystar Single-Nucleotide tRNA m7G Modification Seq(m7G-Quant-Seq) is an end-to-end sample-to-data service for tRNA, from RNA sample QC and tRNA treatment through library construction, sequencing and bioinformatics. Sites are localized within mature tRNA transcripts with relative coordinates, gene attribution, anticodon and isotype, and structural-domain context.

What is tRNA m7G-Quant-Seq?

m7G-Quant-Seq is a base-resolution method in which targeted chemical conversion distinguishes internal N7-methylguanosine from the 5' cap, so internal m7G is detected and quantified across tRNA at single-nucleotide resolution.

Service at a Glance

Standard internal m7G project — custom designs and add-on analyses available on request

Service NamePrice
Single-Nucleotide tRNA m7G Modification Seq(m7G-Quant-Seq)

Benefits

Why internal m7G needs its own assay

Internal m7G separated from the cap

Targeted conversion distinguishes the internal modification from cap structures, so the reported signal belongs to tRNA rather than to cap chemistry.

Quantified rather than merely detected

Each position yields a modification fraction, allowing internal m7G levels to be compared between samples.

Antibody-free chemistry

No enrichment step means no pull-down bias and no cross-reactivity inside compact, structured tRNA.

Annotated within mature tRNA

Sites carry relative coordinates, host tRNA gene, anticodon, isotype and structural-domain assignment.

Independent of cleavage methods

The quantitative conversion route provides a separate line of evidence from cleavage-based m7G sequencing.

Delivered end to end

RNA QC, tRNA treatment, library construction, sequencing and analysis are handled as one project.

Background

Why m7G quantification is harder than it looks

Internal N7-methylguanosine modifies the base in a way that changes its charge and its stacking behaviour, and in tRNA it contributes to structure and function. Because the cap carries the same modified base, bulk signal cannot be attributed to tRNA unless the two pools are separated before detection (1).

Targeted chemical conversion acts on the internal modification and records it as a distinct reverse-transcription signature, so each internal m7G site is read at base resolution and quantified from the converted fraction. Arraystar applies the chemistry in a tRNA workflow and reports every site with its tRNA context (1).

internal m7G
Figure 1. m7G-Quant-Seq detection scheme. Targeted chemical conversion separates internal N7-methylguanosine from the cap, then detects and quantifies internal m7G at base resolution.

tRNA m7G-Quant-Seq Workflow

From total RNA to internal m7G stoichiometry

Total RNA passes sample QC and small-RNA-retaining purification, then tRNA treatment and targeted chemical conversion, library construction and sequencing, after which conversion-aware alignment and per-site quantification produce the internal m7G map.

tRNA m7G-Quant-Seq Workflow
Figure 2. Single-Nucleotide tRNA m7G Modification Seq workflow.

Bioinformatics & Deliverables

Bioinformatics for m7G-Quant-Seq

Reads are mapped to a curated tRNA reference, conversion signatures are called as internal m7G positions, and per-position stoichiometry is reported with motif, distribution, differential, enrichment and genome-browser results.

Standard Deliverables

Research Applications

Where internal m7G quantification fits

tRNA structural biology

Links internal m7G at a defined position to tRNA folding and stability.

Writer and eraser studies

Tests how methyltransferase or demethylase perturbations change internal m7G levels.

Cap-versus-internal questions

Separates the two pools so that tRNA-derived signal is not confused with cap signal.

Isotype-resolved analysis

Compares m7G occupancy between tRNA isotypes and isoacceptors.

Disease-oriented screening

Identifies differentially methylated tRNA positions between groups.

Sample Requirements

Sample handling and submission for internal m7G

Sample Storage

  • For cells/tissue: use TRIzol or an RNA-stabilizing reagent, quick-freeze in liquid nitrogen, and keep at –80 °C.
  • For RNA: dissolve in ethanol or RNase-free water, store at –80 °C, and limit freeze–thaw cycles.

Shipping Instructions

  • Transfer each sample into a 1.5 mL nuclease-free tube.
  • Close the tube securely with parafilm or a cap lock to preserve integrity.
  • Send on dry ice with sufficient insulation to sustain the required temperature.
Sample TypeNotes
Whole bloodUse EDTA tubes only; heparin is not compatible with subsequent analytical procedures.
Cultured cellsCell pellets are preferred to ensure high-quality material for processing.
TissueProvide fresh or frozen specimens and avoid necrotic material.
Total RNAMaintain an OD 260/280 ratio ≥ 1.8 and RIN ≥ 7 with no visible degradation. Submit at least 10 µg total RNA.

Submit at least 10 µg total RNA per sample; the amount includes material consumed by sample QC. Questions: support@arraystar.com

FAQ

Questions we are asked about internal m7G quantification

How does the assay avoid confusing internal m7G with the cap?
Targeted chemical conversion is designed to act on the internal modification, so the resulting signature reports tRNA-borne m7G rather than cap structures. That separation is what makes the quantified fraction attributable to tRNA when both pools carry the same modified base.
Is m7G reported as a fraction or as a call?
As a fraction. The converted proportion at each position gives the modification level, so the same site can be compared quantitatively between samples rather than only being reported as present or absent. That is what makes internal m7G usable in a comparative study.
Which tRNA features are annotated?
Sites are reported with relative coordinates inside the mature tRNA transcript, host tRNA gene attribution, anticodon and isotype, and structural-domain localization, so each internal m7G call can be read in the context of the tRNA that carries it rather than as a coordinate alone.
How much material does the project need?
At least 10 µg of total RNA per sample, including the material consumed by sample QC. RNA should show an OD260/280 ratio of 1.8 or higher with no visible degradation, and supplying twice the minimum is advised to avoid project delays.
How does this relate to cleavage-based m7G sequencing?
The two use different chemistry to reach the same modification. Running the quantitative conversion route alongside a cleavage-based method provides independent evidence for a site and cross-checks the reported levels, which is useful when internal m7G is compared across conditions.
Can differential m7G be tested between conditions?
Yes. Per-position stoichiometry is reported for each sample, and differential analysis with fold change and significance is part of the standard pipeline, so shifts in internal m7G can be called directly at the level of individual tRNA positions across a time course.

Selected Publications

Key references for internal m7G

  1. Zhou H, Li H, Liu Y, et al. m7G-quant-seq: quantitative detection of RNA internal N7-methylguanosine. ACS Chemical Biology, 2022. PMID: 36398936

Quantify Internal m7G on Your tRNAs

Arraystar tRNA m7G-Quant-Seq separates internal m7G from cap signal and returns base-resolution levels — share your samples and we will scope the run.