Development of a sensitive reverse transcriptase PCR assay, RT-RPCR, utilizing rapid cycle times.

We describe a procedure to analyze rare gene transcripts quantitatively using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain (RT-PCR) reaction. RNA purified from cells and tissues is reverse-transcribed using random hexamer primers and is amplified using very short cycle times. The products are trace-labeled with [32P[dCTP, which allows for the quantitation of the products by gel electrophoresis and excision of bands. The quantity of the PCR product is directly proportional to the quantity of cDNA added and is reproducible from a single cDNA preparation or from samples derived from separate preparations. Because cDNA synthesis is primed with random oligonucleotides, the same cDNA sample preparation can be examined for many different gene products.