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Differential display of mRNA
J S Zhang1, E L Duncan, A C Chang
1Children's Medical Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Molecular Biotechnology
|November 20, 1998
Summary
Differential display (DD) identifies genes with varying expression levels using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This review covers DD modifications and compares it to other gene expression analysis methods.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Differential display (DD) is a molecular technique used to analyze gene expression.
- It involves reverse transcription of mRNA followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification.
- This method allows for the identification of genes that are expressed at different levels in various cell populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the differential display (DD) technique.
- To discuss recent modifications to the DD procedure.
- To compare DD with alternative methods for analyzing differential mRNA expression.
Main Methods:
- Reverse transcription of mRNA from different cell populations.
- Amplification of complementary DNA (cDNA) fragments using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers.
- Separation and visualization of amplified cDNA fragments via gel electrophoresis.
Main Results:
- The differential display technique enables the identification of genes with altered expression patterns.
- Recent modifications have enhanced the robustness and simplicity of the procedure.
- Comparison with other techniques provides insights into the strengths and limitations of DD.
Conclusions:
- Differential display is a valuable tool for discovering novel genes and understanding gene regulation.
- The technique is relatively simple and robust, making it accessible for various research applications.
- Understanding DD and its alternatives is crucial for effective gene expression analysis.