Detection of RNA transcripts in normal lymphoid and myeloid colonies.

A procedure is described for the routine detection of RNA transcripts in small numbers of hematopoietic cells growing in semi-solid agar. It is suggested that hybridization depends upon RNA expression and that as few as 2500 mRNA molecules per colony are easily detected. Applications of this technique are described in three diverse experimental systems; immunoglobulin gene expression in B cell colonies; neo expression in normal and transformed B cell clones derived from multipotent stem cells infected with a neo-containing retrovirus; and c-myc expression in factor-dependent myeloid colonies.