Rapid quantitation of individual RNA species in a complex population

Many investigations require quantitation of one or more individual RNA species in complex populations. Existing methods are tedious when multiple samples are to be assayed. A method is presented which allows rapid and accurate quantitation of many species of RNA simultaneously. Recombinant plasmids containing cDNA inserts are electrophoresed in agarose and blotted to nitrocellulose. After hybridization with labeled RNA and autoradiography, bands are quantitated by scanning. The results were calibrated by solution hybridization. The approach has been validated through the use of plasmids containing inserts of Drosophila cDNA and RNA of cultured cells.