3,786 research outputs found
Real-time DNA microarray analysis
We present a quantification method for affinity-based
DNA microarrays which is based on the
real-time measurements of hybridization kinetics.
This method, i.e. real-time DNA microarrays,
enhances the detection dynamic range of conventional
systems by being impervious to probe
saturation in the capturing spots, washing
artifacts, microarray spot-to-spot variations, and
other signal amplitude-affecting non-idealities. We
demonstrate in both theory and practice that the
time-constant of target capturing in microarrays,
similar to all affinity-based biosensors, is inversely
proportional to the concentration of the target
analyte, which we subsequently use as the fundamental
parameter to estimate the concentration
of the analytes. Furthermore, to empirically
validate the capabilities of this method in practical
applications, we present a FRET-based assay which
enables the real-time detection in gene expression
DNA microarrays
Physico-chemical foundations underpinning microarray and next-generation sequencing experiments
Hybridization of nucleic acids on solid surfaces is a key process involved in high-throughput technologies such as microarrays and, in some cases, next-generation sequencing (NGS). A physical understanding of the hybridization process helps to determine the accuracy of these technologies. The goal of a widespread research program is to develop reliable transformations between the raw signals reported by the technologies and individual molecular concentrations from an ensemble of nucleic acids. This research has inputs from many areas, from bioinformatics and biostatistics, to theoretical and experimental biochemistry and biophysics, to computer simulations. A group of leading researchers met in Ploen Germany in 2011 to discuss present knowledge and limitations of our physico-chemical understanding of high-throughput nucleic acid technologies. This meeting inspired us to write this summary, which provides an overview of the state-of-the-art approaches based on physico-chemical foundation to modeling of the nucleic acids hybridization process on solid surfaces. In addition, practical application of current knowledge is emphasized
Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) Reveals a Neo-X Chromosome and Biased Gene Movement in Stalk-Eyed Flies (Genus Teleopsis)
Chromosomal location has a significant effect on the evolutionary dynamics of genes involved in sexual dimorphism, impacting both the pattern of sex-specific gene expression and the rate of duplication and protein evolution for these genes. For nearly all non-model organisms, however, knowledge of chromosomal gene content is minimal and difficult to obtain on a genomic scale. In this study, we utilized Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH), using probes designed from EST sequence, to identify genes located on the X chromosome of four species in the stalk-eyed fly genus Teleopsis. Analysis of log2 ratio values of female-to-male hybridization intensities from the CGH microarrays for over 3,400 genes reveals a strongly bimodal distribution that clearly differentiates autosomal from X-linked genes for all four species. Genotyping of 33 and linkage mapping of 28 of these genes in Teleopsis dalmanni indicate the CGH results correctly identified chromosomal location in all cases. Syntenic comparison with Drosophila indicates that 90% of the X-linked genes in Teleopsis are homologous to genes located on chromosome 2L in Drosophila melanogaster, suggesting the formation of a nearly complete neo-X chromosome from Muller element B in the dipteran lineage leading to Teleopsis. Analysis of gene movement both relative to Drosophila and within Teleopsis indicates that gene movement is significantly associated with 1) rates of protein evolution, 2) the pattern of gene duplication, and 3) the evolution of eyespan sexual dimorphism. Overall, this study reveals that diopsids are a critical group for understanding the evolution of sex chromosomes within Diptera. In addition, we demonstrate that CGH is a useful technique for identifying chromosomal sex-linkage and should be applicable to other organisms with EST or partial genomic information
Widespread Occurrence of Dosage Compensation in Candida albicans
The important human pathogen Candida albicans possesses an unusual form of gene regulation, in which the copy number of an entire specific chromosome or a large portion of a specific chromosome changes in response to a specific adverse environment, thus, insuring survival. In the absence of the adverse environment, the altered portion of the genome can be restored to its normal condition. One major question is how C. albicans copes with gene imbalance arising by transitory aneuploid states. Here, we compared transcriptomes from cells with either two copies or one copy of chromosome 5 (Ch5) in, respectively, a diploid strain 3153A and its representative derivative Sor55. Statistical analyses revealed that at least 40% of transcripts from the monosomic Ch5 are fully compensated to a disomic level, thus, indicating the existence of a genome-wide mechanism maintaining cellular homeostasis. Only approximately 15% of transcripts were diminished twofold in accordance with what would be expected for Ch5 monosomy. Another minor portion of approximately 6% of transcripts, unexpectedly, increased up to twofold and higher than the disomic level, demonstrating indirect control by monosomy. Array comparative genome hybridization revealed that only few out of approximately 500 genes on the monosomic Ch5b were duplicated, thus, not causing a global up regulation. Dosage compensation was confirmed with several representative genes from another monosomic Ch5a in the mutant Sor60. We suggest that C. albicans's unusual regulation of gene expression by the loss and gain of entire chromosomes is coupled with widespread compensation of gene dosage at the transcriptional level
Feedback modulation of cholesterol metabolism by the lipid-responsive non-coding RNA LeXis.
Liver X receptors (LXRs) are transcriptional regulators of cellular and systemic cholesterol homeostasis. Under conditions of excess cholesterol, LXR activation induces the expression of several genes involved in cholesterol efflux, facilitates cholesterol esterification by promoting fatty acid synthesis, and inhibits cholesterol uptake by the low-density lipoprotein receptor. The fact that sterol content is maintained in a narrow range in most cell types and in the organism as a whole suggests that extensive crosstalk between regulatory pathways must exist. However, the molecular mechanisms that integrate LXRs with other lipid metabolic pathways are incompletely understood. Here we show that ligand activation of LXRs in mouse liver not only promotes cholesterol efflux, but also simultaneously inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis. We further identify the long non-coding RNA LeXis as a mediator of this effect. Hepatic LeXis expression is robustly induced in response to a Western diet (high in fat and cholesterol) or to pharmacological LXR activation. Raising or lowering LeXis levels in the liver affects the expression of genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and alters the cholesterol levels in the liver and plasma. LeXis interacts with and affects the DNA interactions of RALY, a heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein that acts as a transcriptional cofactor for cholesterol biosynthetic genes in the mouse liver. These findings outline a regulatory role for a non-coding RNA in lipid metabolism and advance our understanding of the mechanisms that coordinate sterol homeostasis
Probabilistic estimation of microarray data reliability and underlying gene expression
Background: The availability of high throughput methods for measurement of
mRNA concentrations makes the reliability of conclusions drawn from the data
and global quality control of samples and hybridization important issues. We
address these issues by an information theoretic approach, applied to
discretized expression values in replicated gene expression data.
Results: Our approach yields a quantitative measure of two important
parameter classes: First, the probability that a gene is in the
biological state in a certain variety, given its observed expression
in the samples of that variety. Second, sample specific error probabilities
which serve as consistency indicators of the measured samples of each variety.
The method and its limitations are tested on gene expression data for
developing murine B-cells and a -test is used as reference. On a set of
known genes it performs better than the -test despite the crude
discretization into only two expression levels. The consistency indicators,
i.e. the error probabilities, correlate well with variations in the biological
material and thus prove efficient.
Conclusions: The proposed method is effective in determining differential
gene expression and sample reliability in replicated microarray data. Already
at two discrete expression levels in each sample, it gives a good explanation
of the data and is comparable to standard techniques.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
Effects of Aneuploidy on Genome Structure, Expression, and Interphase Organization in Arabidopsis thaliana
Aneuploidy refers to losses and/or gains of individual chromosomes from the
normal chromosome set. The resulting gene dosage imbalance has a noticeable
affect on the phenotype, as illustrated by aneuploid syndromes, including Down
syndrome in humans, and by human solid tumor cells, which are highly aneuploid.
Although the phenotypic manifestations of aneuploidy are usually apparent,
information about the underlying alterations in structure, expression, and
interphase organization of unbalanced chromosome sets is still sparse. Plants
generally tolerate aneuploidy better than animals, and, through colchicine
treatment and breeding strategies, it is possible to obtain inbred sibling
plants with different numbers of chromosomes. This possibility, combined with
the genetic and genomics tools available for Arabidopsis
thaliana, provides a powerful means to assess systematically the
molecular and cytological consequences of aberrant numbers of specific
chromosomes. Here, we report on the generation of Arabidopsis
plants in which chromosome 5 is present in triplicate. We compare the global
transcript profiles of normal diploids and chromosome 5 trisomics, and assess
genome integrity using array comparative genome hybridization. We use live cell
imaging to determine the interphase 3D arrangement of transgene-encoded
fluorescent tags on chromosome 5 in trisomic and triploid plants. The results
indicate that trisomy 5 disrupts gene expression throughout the genome and
supports the production and/or retention of truncated copies of chromosome 5.
Although trisomy 5 does not grossly distort the interphase arrangement of
fluorescent-tagged sites on chromosome 5, it may somewhat enhance associations
between transgene alleles. Our analysis reveals the complex genomic changes that
can occur in aneuploids and underscores the importance of using multiple
experimental approaches to investigate how chromosome numerical changes
condition abnormal phenotypes and progressive genome instability
DNA multiplex hybridization on microarrays and thermodynamic stability in solution: a direct comparison
Hybridization intensities of 30 distinct short duplex DNAs measured on spotted microarrays, were directly compared with thermodynamic stabilities measured in solution. DNA sequences were designed to promote formation of perfect match, or hybrid duplexes containing tandem mismatches. Thermodynamic parameters ΔH°, ΔS° and ΔG° of melting transitions in solution were evaluated directly using differential scanning calorimetry. Quantitative comparison with results from 63 multiplex microarray hybridization experiments provided a linear relationship for perfect match and most mismatch duplexes. Examination of outliers suggests that both duplex length and relative position of tandem mismatches could be important factors contributing to observed deviations from linearity. A detailed comparison of measured thermodynamic parameters with those calculated using the nearest-neighbor model was performed. Analysis revealed the nearest-neighbor model generally predicts mismatch duplexes to be less stable than experimentally observed. Results also show the relative stability of a tandem mismatch is highly dependent on the identity of the flanking Watson–Crick (w/c) base pairs. Thus, specifying the stability contribution of a tandem mismatch requires consideration of the sequence identity of at least four base pair units (tandem mismatch and flanking w/c base pairs). These observations underscore the need for rigorous evaluation of thermodynamic parameters describing tandem mismatch stability
Gene Expression Profiling of Two Distinct Neuronal Populations in the Rodent Spinal Cord
BACKGROUND: In the field of neuroscience microarray gene expression profiles on anatomically defined brain structures are being used increasingly to study both normal brain functions as well as pathological states. Fluorescent tracing techniques in brain tissue that identifies distinct neuronal populations can in combination with global gene expression profiling potentially increase the resolution and specificity of such studies to shed new light on neuronal functions at the cellular level. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We examine the microarray gene expression profiles of two distinct neuronal populations in the spinal cord of the neonatal rat, the principal motor neurons and specific interneurons involved in motor control. The gene expression profiles of the respective cell populations were obtained from amplified mRNA originating from 50-250 fluorescently identified and laser microdissected cells. In the data analysis we combine a new microarray normalization procedure with a conglomerate measure of significant differential gene expression. Using our methodology we find 32 genes to be more expressed in the interneurons compared to the motor neurons that all except one have not previously been associated with this neuronal population. As a validation of our method we find 17 genes to be more expressed in the motor neurons than in the interneurons and of these only one had not previously been described in this population. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We provide an optimized experimental protocol that allows isolation of gene transcripts from fluorescent retrogradely labeled cell populations in fresh tissue, which can be used to generate amplified aRNA for microarray hybridization from as few as 50 laser microdissected cells. Using this optimized experimental protocol in combination with our microarray analysis methodology we find 49 differentially expressed genes between the motor neurons and the interneurons that reflect the functional differences between these two cell populations in generating and transmitting the motor output in the rodent spinal cord
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