Invitrogen Launches Microarray to Study Non-Coding RNA

Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN), a provider of essential life science technologies for research, production and diagnostics, today announced the launch of the first high-density microarray for the profiling of non-coding RNAs. The NCode™ Human and Mouse non-coding RNA microarrays consist of both non-coding RNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) content on the same array. The arrays are designed by Invitrogen and then manufactured by Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A), a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis, using the company’s proprietary SurePrint technology.

Transcription, or the synthesis of RNA as directed by DNA, involves not only mRNA corresponding to the genes that are translated into proteins, but also tens of thousands of long non-protein-coding RNAs. These non-coding RNAs appear to comprise a vast hidden layer of genetic programming implicated in development and disease pathways in mammals.

"Non-coding RNA transcripts play a variety of roles in a cell, ranging from simple housekeeping to complex regulatory functions, and evidence is mounting that their expression is perturbed in many cancers,” said John Mattick, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Queensland, Australia. "Because their function remains largely unknown, these transcripts represent a new frontier of molecular genetic, molecular biological, physiological and cell biological research.”

The NCode non-coding RNA microarrays contain sequences of RNA that do not code for proteins along with sequences of RNA corresponding to mRNAs, which are translated into proteins in a cell. The non-coding sequences were generated and subsequently validated by Professor Mattick’s team at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, and exclusively licensed by Invitrogen (view press release).

"When we talked to scientists about their interest in studying non-coding RNA, many told us they wanted a microarray that consisted of both mRNA and non-coding RNA content, which would help them elucidate the function of specific non-coding RNAs in relation to known pathways of gene expression,” said Amy Butler, Vice President of Gene Expression Profiling for Invitrogen. "We answered with an array-based solution, exclusive to Invitrogen, that has tens of thousands of coding and non-coding sequences which could answer multiple scientific questions with a single experiment.”

Because the NCode non-coding RNA microarrays include thousands of individual sequences, they must be spotted very densely on a glass slide. To meet this density requirement, Invitrogen partnered with Agilent to use Agilent’s proprietary SurePrint technology to manufacture the NCode non-coding RNA microarrays. Invitrogen will market and distribute the product.

"The precision and flexibility of Agilent’s Sureprint technology enables an unmatched level of performance and quality that is essential to conduct array-based gene expression research,” noted Yvonne Linney, Ph.D., Agilent vice president and general manager, Genomics. "By selecting SurePrint technology to manufacture this new array for research use, Invitrogen is ensuring the consistent performance of the NCode non-coding microarrays.”

For more information, visit www.invitrogen.com/Ncode.

About Invitrogen

Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN) provides products and services that support academic and government research institutions and pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide in their efforts to improve the human condition. The company provides essential life science technologies for disease research, drug discovery, and commercial bioproduction. Invitrogen's own research and development efforts are focused on breakthrough innovation in all major areas of biological discovery including functional genomics, proteomics, stem cells, cell therapy and cell biology - placing Invitrogen's products in nearly every major laboratory in the world. Founded in 1987, Invitrogen is headquartered in Carlsbad, CA, and conducts business in more than 70 countries around the world. The company employs approximately 4,700 scientists and other professionals and had revenues of approximately $1.3 billion in 2007. For more information, visit www.Invitrogen.com.

About Agilent

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company’s 20,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $5.4 billion in fiscal year 2007. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is Invitrogen's intent that such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to; a) the NCode™ Human and Mouse non-coding RNA microarrays may or may not generate multiple answers in a single experiment; b) the NCode™ Human and Mouse non-coding RNA microarrays may or may not be ensured of consistent performance; and the risks that the market will not accept the companies’ products and services, or that the companies will be unsuccessful in their efforts to develop new products and services, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Invitrogen's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.