An oligodeoxynucleotide primer hybridized to mRNA is extended by an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase to create a cDNA copy that can be amplified by PCR. Depending on the purpose of the experiment, the primer for first-strand cDNA synthesis can be specifically designed to hybridize to a particular target gene, or a general primer such as oligo(dT) can be used to prime cDNA synthesis from essentially all mammalian mRNAs - [Read Amplification of cDNA Generated by Reverse Transcription of mRNA Protocol]
This cDNA synthesis system simplifies your work dramatically. All reaction components are premixed and lyophylised. You have to add your RNA and (for Your-Prime beads) the primer. Another advantage of the system is a little number of pipetting steps required, and therefore reduced risk of Rnase contamination and RNA degradation. - [Read First strand cDNA synthesis with Ready-To-Go Beads Protocol]
How should I prime my cDNA?- http://invitrogen.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/invitrogen.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=HczfJTng&p_lva=1&p_faqid=1
Protocol for in vitro mutagenesis using double-stranded DNA templates. Two oligonucleotides are used to prime DNA synthesis catalyzed by a high-fidelity thermostable polymerase on a denatured plasmid template. The two oligonucleotides both contain the desired mutation and occupy the same starting and ending positions on opposite strands of the plasmid DNA. - [Read In Vitro Mutagenesis Using Double-stranded DNA Templates: Selection of Mutants with DpnI]
Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can be used to prime RNA synthesis by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). SiRNAs can be used by RdRP as primers for specific cellular mRNAs, forming dsRNA products capable of inducing transitive RNAi. - [Read Protocol for siRNA-Primed RNA Synthesis Protocol]
A synthetic oligonucleotide annealed to single-stranded DNA derived from a recombinant bacteriophage M13 or phagemid template is used to prime the synthesis of complementary radiolabeled DNA. Synthesis is catalyzed by the Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I, which extends the annealed primer for various distances along the single-stranded template DNA. - [Read Synthesis of Single-stranded DNA Probes of Defined Length from Bacteriophage M13 Templates Protocol]
DNA microarrays are an ordered arrangement of DNA molecules complementary to genes of interest that are "spotted" by robotic equipment onto a glass slide substrate. The expression of genes in cells can be monitored with microarrays by preparing cDNA from the mRNA of cells of interest and measuring the hybridization to the microarray. This protocol describes the labeling of genomic DNA for use as a probe for hybridization to the cDNA spotted on the array.
This Microarray Protocol Preparation of Fluorescent DNA Probes from Human mRNA protocol describes the production of probes labeled with the fluorescent dyes, Cy3 and Cy5, following the synthesis of cDNA from human mRNA and the hybridization of the probes to DNA microarrays.
3' Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends RACE Using PCR Protocol. This protocol contains the steps for 3' end rapid amplification of mRNA by PCR. The first-strand cDNA is synthesized from total or poly(A+) RNA by priming from the poly-A tail of the mRNA using a oligo (dT) adaptor primer. The cDNA is then amplified via PCR using a gene-specific primer and an adaptor primer.