Excision Repair Cross-Complementing 1 Human Recombinant
The External RNA Controls Consortium (ERCC) is an initiative aimed at developing standardized RNA spike-in controls to ensure the reproducibility and accuracy of gene expression measurements. These controls are synthetic RNA molecules used in various gene expression assays, including RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and microarrays .
Key Biological Properties: ERCC controls are synthetic RNA molecules designed to mimic natural RNA sequences. They are used to assess the technical performance of gene expression assays, monitor variability, and quantify gene expression levels .
Expression Patterns: ERCC controls are not naturally expressed in biological systems. Instead, they are added to experimental samples in known quantities to serve as internal standards .
Tissue Distribution: Since ERCC controls are synthetic, they do not have a natural tissue distribution. They are used across various experimental setups to ensure consistency and reliability in gene expression measurements .
Primary Biological Functions: The primary function of ERCC controls is to provide a benchmark for evaluating the performance of gene expression assays. They help in identifying technical variability and ensuring the accuracy of gene expression data .
Role in Immune Responses and Pathogen Recognition: ERCC controls do not have a direct role in immune responses or pathogen recognition as they are synthetic molecules used for assay calibration .
Mechanisms with Other Molecules and Cells: ERCC controls interact with the components of gene expression assays, such as RNA sequencing platforms and microarrays. They serve as internal standards to assess the performance of these assays .
Binding Partners: ERCC controls do not have specific binding partners in biological systems. Their primary role is to act as reference standards in gene expression experiments .
Downstream Signaling Cascades: ERCC controls do not participate in downstream signaling cascades as they are synthetic molecules used for assay calibration .
Regulatory Mechanisms Controlling Expression and Activity: ERCC controls are not subject to biological regulatory mechanisms as they are synthetic molecules. Their concentration and presence in experimental samples are controlled by the researchers .
Transcriptional Regulation: ERCC controls are not transcribed in biological systems. They are synthesized and added to experimental samples in known quantities .
Post-Translational Modifications: ERCC controls do not undergo post-translational modifications as they are synthetic RNA molecules .
Biomedical Research: ERCC controls are widely used in biomedical research to ensure the accuracy and reproducibility of gene expression measurements. They are essential for validating experimental results and comparing data across different studies .
Diagnostic Tools: ERCC controls are used in diagnostic assays to ensure the reliability of gene expression data, which is crucial for accurate disease diagnosis and monitoring .
Therapeutic Strategies: While ERCC controls themselves are not used as therapeutic agents, their role in ensuring accurate gene expression measurements is critical for the development of gene-based therapies .