DNA stability

DNA can be conserved in tissue samples or in a more convenient purified form compatible with downstream analyses.
As all biological molecules, DNA is prone to alterations. In living cells, most of these alterations are corrected by the multiple repair mechanisms that maintain DNA sequence and structure. In the absence of these mechanisms, DNA may be degraded or modified by numerous factors such as:
- nucleases (enzymes)
- water
- oxygen
- ultraviolet or ionising radiations
- Maillard products (these compounds are generated from non enzymatic reaction of reducing sugar on amine groups during prolonged storage of tissues)
- genotoxic chemical products.
However, in some favorable natural situations, it has been possible to extract and analyze DNA from fossils up to 80,000 years old. Thus DNA can be very stable at room temperature if suitably shielded from degradation factors, mainly light, water and oxygen.

DNA encapsulation in the DNAshell minicapsules

Imagene provides a safe and effective solution to store DNA at room temperature.
DNA samples are first dehydrated and then processed as follow:
1. The capsules containing DNA are moved to an anoxic and anhydrous chamber which is continuously monitored for oxygen and water levels.
2. The capsules are capped and sealed by laser welding insuring a hermetic atmosphere.
3. Each capsule is checked for leakage by mass spectrometry.