Detection of eukaryotic cDNA in differential display is enhanced by the addition of E-coli RNA

We describe a method to enhance the sensitivity of eukaryotic cDNA detectio n in differential display (DD). Typically, DD protocols require between 200 and 500 ng RNA for each reverse transcription reaction. The addition of Es cherichia coli RNA before reverse transcription of eukaryotic RNA increases the detection of DD patterns more than tenfold. The method broadens the ap plicability of DD mid allows the identification of genes that are different ially expressed when the amount of eukaryotic RNA is limited.