Riboprobe

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Riboprobe is a type of RNA probe that is synthesized in vitro by RNA transcription. It is used in molecular biology research, particularly in the field of genetics, to detect the presence of complementary nucleic acid sequences (DNA or RNA) in a sample. Riboprobes are often labeled with radioactive or non-radioactive tags to enable detection.

Synthesis[edit | edit source]

Riboprobes are synthesized from a DNA template by in vitro transcription. The DNA template is usually a plasmid or a PCR product that contains the sequence of interest. The transcription is carried out by RNA polymerase, which synthesizes the riboprobe in the 5' to 3' direction. The riboprobe can be labeled during synthesis by incorporating labeled nucleotides into the RNA.

Applications[edit | edit source]

Riboprobes are used in a variety of applications in molecular biology. They are often used in Northern blotting to detect specific RNA molecules in a sample. They can also be used in in situ hybridization to detect specific sequences of DNA or RNA in cells or tissues. In addition, riboprobes can be used in RNAse protection assays to measure the amount of specific RNA molecules in a sample.

Advantages and Disadvantages[edit | edit source]

One of the main advantages of riboprobes is their high specificity. Because they are complementary to the sequence of interest, they can specifically bind to that sequence and not to other sequences. This makes them very useful for detecting specific sequences in complex samples.

However, riboprobes also have some disadvantages. One of the main disadvantages is that they can be degraded by RNases, which are enzymes that degrade RNA. This can make it difficult to store and handle riboprobes. In addition, the synthesis of riboprobes can be time-consuming and requires specialized equipment and expertise.

See also[edit | edit source]

Riboprobe Resources
Doctor showing form.jpg
Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD