Most eukaryotic mRNAs require a 7-methyl guanosine (m7G) cap structure at the 5´ end and a Poly(A) tail at the 3´ end to be efficiently translated.

By using a DNA template encoding a poly(A) tail, the HiScribe T7 ARCA mRNA Kit can be used to synthesize capped and tailed mRNAs. The cap structure is added to the mRNA by co-transcriptional incorporation of Anti-Reverse Cap Analog (ARCA) using T7 RNA Polymerase. The transcription reaction can be set up easily by combining the ARCA/NTP Mix, T7 RNA Polymerase Mix and a suitable DNA template. The kit also allows for partial incorporation of 5mCTP, Pseudo-UTP and other modified nucleotides into mRNA. mRNAs synthesized with the kit can be used for cell transfection, microinjection, in vitro translation and RNA vaccines. Poly(A) tail is incorporated during the transcription reaction. The kit also includes DNase I and LiCl for DNA template removal and quick mRNA purification.