Screening for novel pancreatic genes expressed during embryogenesis

We have combined suppressive subtractive hybridization with in situ hybridi zation to identify genes expressed at early stages of pancreas development. By using polymerase chain reaction amplification and subtractive hybridiza tion, this protocol for screening can be applied when the amount of RNA is limited. Seven genes expressed in or adjacent to the pancreas anlage were i solated, three of which show similarity to known genes. The expression patt ern and sequence information indicate that some of the genes could govern p ancreas development.