ExpressPlex 2.0: Workflow simplicity plus the performance of TnX for high throughput plasmid and amplicon sequencing.
ExpressPlex 2.0 is an automation-friendly, one-step library prep powered by TnX to reduce bias and improve coverage uniformity using a highly streamlined workflow for sequencing synthetic constructs like plasmids & amplicons.
PhiRx Indexed Control NOW included with every ExpressPlex Library Prep Kit

Moderna presentation – Antibody Sequencing: New Operating Model
In this presentation, Nasthas Lacerda Almeida from Moderna, highlights how her organization has leveraged ExpressPlex™ 2.0 for a clonal antibody sequencing approach, optimized for speed and scalability using de novo assembly of NGS short reads.
Advances in Plasmid Verification: The Role of NGS in Identity & Clonality Testing.
This application note compares ‘gold-standard’ Sanger sequencing with next-generation sequencing (NGS) for plasmid QC focusing on their strengths, weaknesses, and performance metrics particularly for detecting contaminant constructs that can arise from co-transformation events.
ExpressPlex 2.0 uses tagmentation powered by TnX, the next generation transposase, to simultaneously fragment & index sample DNA. Average fragment size ranges from 400-1200 bp.

ExpressPlex 2.0 is the only library prep kit powered by TnX! TnX was engineered to reduce insertional bias to improve uniformity of coverage. When directly compared to a Tn5-based competitor library prep kit for sequencing of 2 different plasmids, ExpressPlex 2.0 produced significantly lower CVs and range of coverage (max/min).

ExpressPlex demonstrates significantly higher levels of normalization compared to competitors, enabling a simplified workflow where individual normalization is no longer required to achieve more consistent read-depths across samples.
Libraries were prepared from three different reference plasmids of varying sizes across a 10-fold input range at full reaction volume for ExpressPlex (16 µL) and Nextera XT (50 µL), as well as at ¼ miniaturized reaction volume for Nextera XT.
For each method, inputs ranged from 4-40ng for ExpressPlex (standard input is 16ng) and 0.4 – 4ng for Nextera XT (standard input is 1ng). Inputs were scaled appropriately for 1/4 reactions.

ExpressPlex generates highly consistent library insert sizes over a broad range of DNA inputs.

Libraries from pUC19 plasmid DNA were simultaneously prepared at 3 different input amounts (n=8 each input amount). ExpressPlex demonstrated greater consistency in average insert size across a 10-fold range. In each case, the standard input for both kits (16ng for ExpressPlex, 1ng for Nextera XT) was also included as a mid-range data point.


The game-changing capabilities enabled by the ExpressPlex workflow were highlighted in a webinar collaboration with the synthetic biology team from Octant Bio, a drug discovery company located in Emeryville, CA. Octant’s Henry Chan, PhD (Synthetic Biology Lead) and Bryan Jiang (Research Associate) discussed the application of ExpressPlex to OCTOPUS, the high-throughput plasmid sequencing platform that powers Octant’s therapeutic discovery platform. Watch the video to discover how ExpressPlex has dramatically improved OCTOPUS and accelerated their overall discovery process.

The automation-friendly ExpressPlex one-step tagmentation workflow enables a >80% reduction in tips/plastics usage. We help drive sustainability not only in our internal sequencing services pipeline, but for our customers across the globe.
| ExpressPlex 2.0 Specifications | |
| Primary Applications | Plasmid & amplicon sequencing, and microbial whole genome sequencing (WGS) |
| Sample Input types | Purified plasmid DNA, RCA-amplified DNA, amplicons >350bp, colony PCR amplicons, microbial genomic DNA |
| Transposase | TnX – Next generation engineered transposase |
| Kit format |
|
| DNA Input Recommended | 96-well format:
384-well format:
|
| Total Library Prep Time | 100 minutes (30 minutes hands-on time) |
| Indexing Method | Combinatorial Dual Indexing |
| Number of Unique Index Combinations | Up to 6144 |
| Batch Size |
|
| Output Fragment Range* | 400 – 1,200bp |
| Number of PCR Cycles |
|
| Sequencer Compatibility |
|
* Fragment size will depend on magnetic bead cleanup ratios used.