Km. Anderson et al., RAPID GENERATION OF HOMOLOGOUS INTERNAL STANDARDS AND EVALUATION OF DATA FOR QUANTITATION OF MESSENGER-RNA BY COMPETITIVE POLYMERASE-CHAIN-REACTION, Journal of pharmacological and toxicological methods, 38(3), 1997, pp. 133-140
Sensitive and quantitative measurement of messenger RNA (mRNA) is impo
rtant for accurate assessment of gene expression. Conventional methods
of mRNA measurement frequently lack the sensitivity required to detec
t mRNA expressed at low level, such as mRNA encoding receptors and int
racellar signaling molecules. Thus, the extremely sensitive RT-PCR has
become the method of choice for examination of gene expression. Howev
er, quantitation of mRNA by PCR is difficult because small variations
in amplification efficiencies among sample tubes can lead to substanti
al differences in product yield, thereby rendering direct comparisons
between samples invalid. Development of protocols for quantitative RT-
PCR has relied on internal standards to monitor the efficiency of the
RT-PCR in different reaction tubes. Technically, the two most serious
limitations to routine successful application of competitive quantitat
ive PCR is ready access to competitive internal standards and efficien
t methods for accurate quantitative analysis of the data. In the prese
nt manuscript, application and validation of a simple approach to gene
rate homologous internal competitive standards and to quantitate data
for rapid, accurate determination of the expression level of genes by
quantitative PCR is described. Generation of the competitive standard
from a previously amplified PCR product by the methods described requi
res only one additional primer pair, and an additional two-step reacti
on; it can be completed in 1-2 days. Analyzing the results of the comp
etitive PCR reaction via phosphoimager analysis provides a simple, rap
id method for accurate quantitation of results. Data presented here cl
early illustrate that the methods described have been successfully app
lied, and that they should have wide application for competitive quant
itative PCR analysis of gene expression. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc
.