title: Ultrasensitive assay of RNA: application to 100-500 cells.
abstract: A new method has been developed to measure RNA over the range 0.5 to 25 ng. This procedure involves quantitative hydrolysis of RNA to 5'-monophosphates, conversion of the 5'-AMP to 5'-ATP, and measurement of the ATP by the firefly luciferase assay. This method can be applied to acid precipitated macromolecules without interference from DNA. The measurement of the RNA content of CHO cell colonies of less than 100 cells is described.
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008156:Luciferases; D010783:Photometry; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D008156:Luciferases