Mb. Rosen et al., SUBTRACTIVE HYBRIDIZATION - A TECHNIQUE FOR THE ISOLATION OF DIFFERENTIALLY EXPRESSED GENES, Toxicology methods, 4(2), 1994, pp. 135-147
The technique of subtractive hybridization has been successfully used
to isolate and identify rare and/or differentially expressed genes in
specific tissues or under specific conditions. This technique allows f
or the isolation and subsequent identification of cDNA clones that can
represent as little as 0.01% of the original mRNA population. Alterat
ions in gene expression are invariably closely related to the primary
initiation of changes in normal embryonic development, if not the prim
ary event itself. Similarly, manifestations of cellular/tissue toxicit
y will be reflected in changes in gene expression of the target sites.
The ability to isolate changing gene species, and subsequently to cha
racterize the protein(s) they form, means that subtractive hybridizati
on is potentially a powerful tool for characterizing both normal and a
bnormal conditions in animals and plants. This report reviews some of
the recent applications of this technique, details a protocol we have
used successfully in studies on abnormal mammalian development, and br
iefly describes our results.