As the name suggests, real time PCR is a technique used to monitor the progress of a PCR reaction in real time. At the same time, a relatively small amount of PCR product (DNA, cDNA or RNA) can be quantified. Real Time PCR is based on the detection of the fluorescence produced by a reporter molecule which increases, as the reaction proceeds. This occurs due to the accumulation of the PCR product with each cycle of amplification. These fluorescent reporter molecules include dyes that bind to the double-stranded DNA (i.e. SYBR® Green ) or sequence specific probes (i.e. Molecular Beacons or TaqMan® Probes). Real time PCR facilitates the monitoring of the reaction as it progresses. One can start with minimal amounts of nucleic acid and quantify the end product accurately. Moreover, there is no need for the post PCR processing which saves the resources and the time. These advantages of the fluorescence based real time PCR technique have completely revolutionized the approach to PCR-based quantification of DNA and RNA. Real time PCR assays are now easy to perform, have high sensitivity, more specificity, and provide scope for automation. Real time PCR is also referred to as real time RT PCR which has the additional cycle of reverse transcription that leads to formation of a DNA molecule from a RNA molecule. This is done because RNA is less stable as compared to DNA

In a real time PCR protocol, a fluorescent reporter molecule is used to monitor the PCR as it progresses. The fluorescence emitted by the reporter molecule manifolds as the PCR product accumulates with each cycle of amplification. Based on the molecule used for the detection, the real time PCR techniques can be categorically placed under two heads:

1. Non-specific Detection using DNA Binding Dyes

2. Specific Detection Target Specific Probes

Non-specific Detection using DNA Binding Dyes

In real time PCR, DNA binding dyes are used as fluorescent reporters to monitor the real time PCR reaction. The fluorescence of the reporter dye increases as the product accumulates with each successive cycle of amplification. By recording the amount of fluorescence emission at each cycle, it is possible to monitor the PCR reaction during exponential phase. If a graph is drawn between the log of the starting amount of template and the corresponding increase the fluorescence of the reporter dye fluorescence during real time PCR, a linear relationship is observed.

SYBR® Green is the most widely used double-strand DNA-specific dye reported for real time PCR. SYBR® Green binds to the minor groove of the DNA double helix. In the solution , the unbound dye exhibits very little fluorescence. This fluorescence is substantially enhanced when the dye is bound to double stranded DNA. SYBR® Green remains stable under PCR conditions and the optical filter of the thermocycler can be affixed to harmonize the excitation and emission wavelengths. Ethidium bromide can also be used for detection but its carcinogenic nature renders its use restrictive.

Although these double-stranded DNA-binding dyes provide the simplest and cheapest option for real time PCR, the principal drawback to intercalation based detection of PCR product accumulation is that both specific and nonspecific products generate signal.

Specific Detection using Target Specific Probes

Specific detection of real time PCR is done with some oligonucleotide probes labeled with both a reporter fluorescent dye and a quencher dye. Probes based on different chemistries are available for real time detection, these include:

a. Molecular Beacons
b. TaqMan® Probes
c. FRET Hybridization Probes
d. Scorpion® Primers