A novel medium throughput quantitative competitive PCR technology to simultaneously measure mRNA levels from multiple genes

There is a great demand for technologies to simultaneously measure mRNA levels from multiple genes. Here we report a new quantitative competitive PCR technology and demonstrate simultaneous quantification of mRNA from multiple genes. First, a sequential 2-fold dilution series containing equal amounts of gene-specific standard DNAs for 10–12 genes is prepared. Second, the serially diluted standard DNAs are individually added to equal amounts of tissue-derived cDNA and amplified with gene-specific primers for 19–26 PCR cycles. Each gene/standard DNA pair is amplified individually. All amplified DNA products (n = 80) are resolved by one microplate array diagonal gel electrophoresis using 5% polyacrylamide. Changes in mRNA levels of ∼15% can be detected by this technology. The mRNA levels from 10–12 genes were simultaneously quantified. mRNA levels were compared in RNA samples from rat liver, kidney and skeletal muscle. This quick, specific, sensitive, reproducible and yet inexpensive technique is ideal for simultaneously studying co-ordinate changes in mRNA levels from multiple genes.