Feb 5 (Reuters) - Bio-Techne TECH.O beat second-quarter profit and revenue estimates on Wednesday, helped by growth in its protein sciences unit that makes products to develop therapies

Shares of the company were up 6.8% in premarket trading.

Life sciences companies witnessed reduced spending from biotech clients in the past two years, but recent interest rate cuts could improve the funding environment for biotechs as borrowing costs might ease.

"It is encouraging to see early signs of improvement in the biopharma end-market, which was evident in our cell and gene therapy and protein analysis instrumentation businesses," said CEO Kim Kelderman.

Bio-Techne's larger peer Thermo Fisher Scientific TMO.N last week forecast annual profit above Wall Street estimates, after beating expectations for quarterly results, banking on improved demand for its products and services used in developing therapies.

However, some life sciences firms such as Danaher DHR.N have indicated smaller biotech clients are still cautious with their investments despite the rate cuts.

Sales at Bio-Techne's larger protein sciences unit, which develops and manufactures biological compounds used for research, diagnostics and the development of cell and gene therapies, rose 7% to $211.6 million.

The company posted revenue of $297 million, beating analysts' estimates of $285.7 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31 according to data compiled by LSEG.

On an adjusted basis, the Minnesota-based company posted a profit of 42 cents per share, above estimates of 39 cents.

(Reporting by Sruthi Narasimha Chari and Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)

((SruthiNarasimha.Chari@thomsonreuters.com))