Rapid and accurate detection of plant miRNAs by liquid northern hybridization

Northern blot analysis is a powerful research tool for discovery, validation and expression of genes, and is currently widely used to detect microRNA (miRNA) accumulation. However, the traditional Northern blot procedure, which is based on a support membrane, is overly elaborate and time-consuming, although it is unsurpassed in accuracy for determining the sizes and amounts of multiple small RNAs sharing high sequence identity. Here we present an alternative method derived from plant miRNAs, liquid Northern hybridization, using fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probes and characterized by simple and specific miRNA determination and quantitation. The entire detection process is completed within a few hours, and multiple miRNAs can be simultaneously detected in a single experiment.