Figure 1.

Schematic description of assay design. The miRNA is first converted and simultaneously elongated into a cDNA molecule using a miRNA-specific oligonucleotide with 5' overhang (RT6-miR-x) and six complementary bases (red). Detection and amplification of the relating cDNA are employed, using a novel PCR approach with three different oligonucleotides at different concentrations within the same assay. The cDNA sequence (blue) is first detected and elongated by a specific oligonucleotide with 5' overhang (short-miR-x-rev). Exponential amplification is then performed using two terminal universal primers (MP-fw &MP-rev).