MERCURIUS™
Total DRUG-seq Kits
for extraction-free total RNA-seq
Run full-length total RNA-seq directly from cells with an extraction-free, plate-based workflow for compound screening, MoA studies, toxicity profiling, and target validation.
Multiplexed
full-length RNA-seq
Capture expression, splicing, and isoforms, coding and non-coding RNAs.
No RNA extraction, no material loss
Process cells directly using optimized in-well lysis and reverse transcription.
Pre-amplification-free protocol
Achieve higher mapping and gene detection rates with an improved workflow.
One-day library prep workflow
Generate sequencing-ready libraries from cells in a single working day.
Product Overview
Built for screening teams requiring high-throughput detection of coding and non-coding transcripts, isoforms, and splice variants in 2D cell lines and primary cells without RNA extraction. Ideal for studies with larger cohorts, more conditions, or more timepoints than possible to assess with standard total RNA-seq methods.
MERCURIUS™ Total DRUG-seq enables total RNA-seq at screening scale through in-well cell lysis, early barcoding, and multiplexing of 96 or 384 samples in a single tube. It provides full-length transcript coverage of coding and non-coding transcripts without compromising depth, data quality, or sensitivity compared to sample-by-sample methods. It enables ultra-high-throughput total RNA-seq on Illumina® and AVITI™ platforms and is compatible with standard high-throughput screening infrastructure.
at 5M reads/sample
Applications of the Total DRUG-seq kits
Total RNA bulk RNA-seq for compound and dose–response screens where non-coding RNAs and full-length transcripts are informative.
Mechanism-of-action and toxicity profiling with coding and non-coding RNA signatures from cell-based assays.
Generating AI/ML-ready whole-transcriptome datasets across many compounds and concentrations.
Total DRUG-seq has Uniform Gene Body Coverage Comparable to NEBNext® Ultra™ II Total RNA Prep
Gene body coverage profiles show the normalized 5’ to 3’ read density across transcript bodies for each library type in Huh7 cells. Total DRUG-seq displays uniform coverage across the full transcript length, matching NEBNext® Ultra™ II Total RNA preparations. Standard DRUG-seq shows characteristic 3’ enrichment, reflecting its 3’-end capture design.
Total DRUG-seq has High Gene and Transcript Detection Sensitivity Even at Low Read Depths
Gene-level (left) and transcript-level (right) detection as a function of sequencing depth after downsampling to between 0.1 and 7 million reads per sample. Both protocols detect comparable numbers of genes across all read depths. At the transcript level, Total DRUG-seq detects up to ~2.5-fold more transcripts than 3′ DRUG-seq at equivalent depths, reflecting its full-length coverage and ability to distinguish isoforms.
Total DRUG‑seq Reveals a Shift from Promoter 1 to Promoter 2 Isoforms of HNF4α in Response to TGFβ1
The HNF4α locus has differential isoform usage in response to increasing TGFβ1 dose. Total DRUG-seq (blue tracks) reveals a dose-dependent shift from Promoter 1-driven isoforms (blue box), which are progressively silenced upon TGFβ1 treatment, to Promoter 2-driven isoforms (red box), a hallmark of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor progression. This demonstrates Total DRUG-seq’s ability to detect biologically meaningful isoform switching events in drug response studies. 3′ DRUG-seq (green track) captures only the shared 3′-UTR region.
Product documentation
Publications
- 3' DRUG-seq, DRUG-seq
Rodrigues Sousa, E., de Brot, S., Zoni, E. et al.
- DRUG-seq, Spheroid DRUG-seq
Anstett, V.; Heinzelmann, E.; Piraino, F.; Roch, A.; Chrisnandy, A.; Norkin, M.; Garnier, V.; Homicsko, K.; Hoehnel-Ka, S.; Brandenberg, N.
Application
Equipment compatibility
Species compatibility
Available formats
Shipping conditions
Storage conditions
Validated cell lines
Liver / Hepatic Models
| HepaRG | Liver |
| HepG2 | Liver (HCC) |
| Huh7 | Liver (HCC) |
| Hep3B | Liver (HCC) |
| PHH (Primary Human Hepatocytes) | Primary liver |
| NCI-H295R | Adrenal/liver metabolism |
Cancer Cells
| MCF7 | Breast cancer |
| A549 | Lung carcinoma |
| H358 | Lung cancer |
| NCI-H1563 / H1048 | Lung cancer |
| DLD-1 | Colorectal cancer |
| SW837 | Colorectal cancer |
| HCT116 | Colorectal cancer |
| LS180 | Colorectal cancer |
| COLO201 | Colorectal cancer |
| C2BBe / C2BBe1 | Colorectal |
| GP5d | Colorectal |
| U2OS | Osteosarcoma |
| A172 | Glioblastoma |
| PSN-1 | Pancreatic cancer |
| AsPC-1 | Pancreatic cancer |
| SU.86.86 | Pancreatic cancer |
| A375 | Melanoma |
| HaCaT | Keratinocyte |
| UMUC3 | Bladder cancer |
| 5637 | Bladder cancer |
| HT1197 | Bladder cancer |
| Cal29 | Bladder cancer |
| UBLC1 | Bladder cancer |
Blood / Immune Cells
| PBMC | Primary blood |
| Jurkat | T-cell leukemia |
| Raji | B-cell lymphoma |
| THP-1 | Monocyte |
| U937 | Monocyte |
| MV-4-11 | AML |
| MOLM13 | AML |
| HL60 | Leukemia |
| MM1S | Myeloma |
| KMS12BM | Myeloma |
| CD4+ / CD8+ T cells | Primary immune |
| Tregs / TILs | Immune subsets |
| CD3 T cells | Immune |
Stem Cells / iPSC-Derived Models
| iPSC | Pluripotent |
| iPSC-derived neurons | Neural |
| iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes | Cardiac |
| iPSC-derived cortical neurons | Neural |
| iPSC-derived organoids | Various |
Neural / Glial Models
| HMC3 | Microglia |
| Luhmes | Dopaminergic neuron |
| IMR90 | Fibroblast (used in brain spheres) |
| iCell GlutaNeurons | Neurons |
| Astrocytes (human/mouse/rat) | Glial |
Fibroblast
| NHDF | Dermal fibroblast |
| MEF | Mouse embryonic fibroblasts |
Epithelial
| HEK293 / HEK293T | Kidney (transformed) |
| ARPE-19 | Retinal epithelium |
| NHEK | Keratinocytes |
| Lung epithelial | Epithelial |
| RPTEC/TERT1 | Kidney (proximal tubule) |
| T84 | Colon epithelium |
Adipose
| Human adipocytes | Primary |
| Brown adipocytes | Metabolic |
| Visceral adipocytes | Primary |
| Mouse/canine adipose | Animal |
How many pools can I prepare with one kit?
Each Total DRUG-seq kit contains reagents (including four pairs of Unique Dual Indexing adapters) sufficient for the complete library preparation process for four different BRB-seq pools.
To note, the total number of RNA samples that can be processed with one kit does not exceed the kit specifications; for instance, a 96-sample kit can be used to prepare up-to 96 samples distributed across up to four different libraries.
What are the input requirements for the cellular material?
The recommended range of input material is in the range of 5’000-50’000 cells.
How does the bioinformatic analysis differ as compared to standard RNA-seq?
The only difference between Total DRUG-seq and standard RNA-seq data analysis is the demultiplexing step, which is used to assign sequencing reads to their sample of origin based on the DRUG-seq barcode sequence.
For a thorough description of Total DRUG-seq data processing, please refer to the Total DRUG-seq kit user guide.
How do I identify which barcode set I should use to demultiplex my data?
The barcode set for your kit is conveniently located on the kit label. Please refer to the label for accurate identification.
For optimal compatibility, ensure that you use the appropriate plate format (e.g., for kits designed for 96 reactions, the 96 well-plate format should be used). This ensures accurate and efficient processing of your samples. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact our support team for assistance by email or using our live chat tool.
Ask your question:
Kit name
Catalog number
pairs
MERCURIUS™ Total DRUG-seq library prep kit (96 preps)
MERCURIUS™ Total DRUG-seq library prep kit (4x96 preps)
MERCURIUS™ Total DRUG-seq library prep kit (384 preps)
MERCURIUS™ Total DRUG-seq library prep kit (4x384 preps)
* Contact us to inquire about compatibility with other species.
Accessories
Product
Number of Samples
MERCURIUS™ Cell lysis module
MERCURIUS™ Cell lysis module
MERCURIUS™ UDI X-Leap Expansion module
MERCURIUS™ Full-Length Post-Pooling Preparation Module (4 libraries)
Ordering tip
Each kit includes 4 UDI pairs. Add the expansion module if you need more unique indexes (total 16 UDI pairs available).
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