A subtractive hybridization method to isolate tissue-specific transcripts: application to the selection of new brain-specific products.

A method based on subtractive hybridization of brain complementary DNAs with peripheral messenger RNAs has enabled us to construct an enriched brain-specific cDNA library. Single-stranded cDNAs (ssc DNAs) were synthesized from brain polyadenylated mRNAs and subsequently hybridized with peripheral mRNAs immobilized on nitrocellulose membrane. Unhybridized sscDNAs were converted into double-stranded cDNAs and cloned into plasmid pUC13. The screening of the resulting library showed that a high percentage of the cloned cDNAs corresponded to mRNAs specifically transcribed in the brain.