Single primer-mediated polymerase chain reaction: application in cloning of two different 5'-untranslated sequences of acidic fibroblast growth factor mRNA.

Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) are used to generate specific DNA sequences from minute amounts of DNA templates using a pair of oligonucleotide primers. To amplify regions of unknown sequence, methods such as inverted PCR, Alu PCR, and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) have been developed. These methods require several enzymatic manipulations of DNA which are either tedious or only suitable for certain special conditions. We have explored the possibility of PCR using a single primer. This method takes advantage of the fact that partial complementarity provides sufficient affinity for the oligonucleotide primer to anneal to a secondary, imperfect binding site. Thus, no modification of DNA template was required for the single primer-mediated PCR. We have used this method to generate two different aFGF cDNA clones containing different 5'-untranslated sequences.