两种标记方法对60mer寡核苷酸芯片背景信号影响的初步分析

研究两种不同的样本标记方法对人全基因组高密度60mer寡核苷酸芯片背景信号的影响。收集5对患病与健康人外周血单个核细胞,分别提取总RNA后,采用限制性显示技术（restriction display,RD）进行样本双色（Cy3/Cy5）荧光标记,与5张Agilent 60mer高密度（22K）Human 1B寡核苷酸芯片进行杂交。芯片全部杂交点分3组：基因探针组、阳性对照组和阴性对照组。阳性对照采用荧光标记寡核苷酸直接掺入法进行标记。对全部杂交信号点的Cy3和Cy5背景信号值,用SPSS软件进行数据转换、正态性检验、方差齐性检验、变异系数分析和重复数据的方差分析。数据分析结果显示,Cy3 标记的背景信号值均高于 Cy5标记的背景信号值。重复测量数据的方差分析表明,在Cy3 和Cy5标记中,两种不同标记方法间的背景信号值的差异极显著（PCy3＜0.01, PCy5＜0.01）,且RD标记点的背景信号平均值低于荧光标记寡核苷酸直接掺入标记法标记的阳性对照点。RD标记方法是一种有用的低背景信号的高密度长链寡核苷酸芯片样本标记方法。     

Technical evaluation of cDNA microarrays

The aims were to evaluate the common reference design approach in microarray experiments and to evaluate the technical performance and the normalisation of cDNA microarrays with a limited number of spots. Total RNA from 3 normal and 3 tumour sample biopsies were used for synthesis of amino-allyl labelled cRNA. Equal amounts of cRNA from all samples were mixed as reference. After conjugation of cRNA with fluorophores (Cy3/Cy5), each individual tumour cRNA was hybridised to a cDNA microarray together with reference cRNA, scanned and analysed. We show that our procedures for producing cDNA microarrays are reproducible. The concordance between duplicated spots and replicate hybridisation was found to be high. We have demonstrated that our cDNA microarrays are of a high technical quality. The majority of the cDNA microarrays had low local spot background levels. Despite the high background levels for some local spots, variation could be minimized by locally weighted scatter plot smooth normalisation (LOWESS), which we showed was also suitable for normalisation of cDNA microarrays with a limited number of probes.     

The influence of RNA integrity,purity and cDNA labelling on glass slide cDNA microarray image quality

The accuracy of gene expression measurements generated using cDNA microarrays is dependent on the quality of the image generated following hybridization of fluorescently labelled cDNA. It is not known how this image is influenced by sample preparation factors which such as RNA quality, cDNA synthesis and labelling efficiency. In this study we used a simple metric based on the ratio of the total feature (F) and background (B) fluorescence, which correlates with the visual assessment of 60 microarray images, to determine the influence of sample preparation on image quality. Results indicate that RNA purity (A260/A280) and integrity (18S:28S ratio) do not strongly influence microarray image quality. cDNA having an nucleotide to dye ratio greater than 100 produced poor microarray images, however, cDNA labelled more efficiently was not a guarantee of a better image. The data also indicate that the array image quality is not improved by loading more cDNA into the hybridization mixture however poor image quality did result from a disproportionate amounts of Cy5 and Cy3 labelled cDNA. This study provides insight into the source of variation in microarray image analysis introduced during sample preparation and will assist in the standardisation of cDNA glass slide microarray protocols.     

Fiber-optic microarray for simultaneous detection of multiple harmful algal bloom species

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a serious threat to coastal resources, causing a variety of impacts on public health, regional economies, and ecosystems. Plankton analysis is a valuable component of many HAB monitoring and research programs, but the diversity of plankton poses a problem in discriminating toxic from nontoxic species using conventional detection methods. Here we describe a sensitive and specific sandwich hybridization assay that combines fiber-optic microarrays with oligonucleotide probes to detect and enumerate the HAB species Alexandrium fundyense, Alexandrium ostenfeldii, and Pseudo-nitzschia australis. Microarrays were prepared by loading oligonucleotide probe-coupled microspheres (diameter, 3 mum) onto the distal ends of chemically etched imaging fiber bundles. Hybridization of target rRNA from HAB cells to immobilized probes on the microspheres was visualized using Cy3-labeled secondary probes in a sandwich-type assay format. We applied these microarrays to the detection and enumeration of HAB cells in both cultured and field samples. Our study demonstrated a detection limit of approximately 5 cells for all three target organisms within 45 min, without a separate amplification step, in both sample types. We also developed a multiplexed microarray to detect the three HAB species simultaneously, which successfully detected the target organisms, alone and in combination, without cross-reactivity. Our study suggests that fiber-optic microarrays can be used for rapid and sensitive detection and potential enumeration of HAB species in the environment.     

Analysis of oligonucleotide microarrays by 3' end labeling using fluorescent nucleotides and terminal transferase

A simple enzymatic labeling procedure is described to determine spot quality in oligonucleotide microarrays. By using fluorescently labeled dideoxynucleotides or ribonucleotides as substrate for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), a single fluorophore can be covalently attached at the 3' end of each oligonucleotide probe molecule in the spot. Fluorescein-12-ddUTP CyTM3-ddUTP Cy5-UTP, and Cy3-UTP were compared as TdT substrates for 3' end labeling an array of 1273 hexamer probes. Cy5-UTP was found to show minimal bias toward probe base composition and is therefore well suited for quantitative analysis of microarray spots where the oligonucleotide probes are coupled via a 5' end linkage to the solid phase.     

肿瘤相关基因表达检测寡核苷酸芯片的制备及其初步应用

为研制肿瘤相关寡核苷酸芯片,并实现其在抗肿瘤反义核酸“癌泰得”作用机理研究方面的初步应用,制备了包含近450种肿瘤相关基因特异寡核苷酸探针的寡核苷酸芯片,建立了相应的质控标准.“癌泰得”用脂质体转染HepG2肿瘤细胞,提取细胞总RNA反转录并荧光标记cDNA,用制备的寡核苷酸芯片检测肝癌细胞HepG2的肿瘤相关基因表达水平,用软件分析获得其差异基因表达谱.0.4 μmol/L的反义核酸“癌泰得”作用于HepG2细胞15 h后,MDNCF、DHS等基因mRNA表达下调,MUC2、MPP11、LAT、HRIF-B、JNK3A1等mRNA基因表达上调,初步检测到了“癌泰得”的抗肿瘤作用可能的相关基因,为进一步的分子作用机理的探讨奠定基础.结果表明,制备的肿瘤相关芯片敏感度高、特异性高、重复性均较好,可用于检测肿瘤相关基因的表达谱,为临床诊断和基础研究提供了技术平台.     

Rapid and quantitative quality control of microarrays using cationic nanoparticles

The fabrication quality of microarrays significantly influences the accuracy and reproducibility of microarray experiments. In this report, we present a simple and fast quality control (QC) method for spotted oligonucleotide and cDNA microarrays. It employs a nonspecific electrostatic interaction of colloidal gold nanoparticles with the chemical groups of DNA molecules and other biomolecules immobilized on the microarray surface that bear positive or negative charges. An inexpensive flatbed scanner is used to visualize and quantify the binding of cationic gold particles to the anionic DNA probes on the microarray surface. An image analysis software was designed to assess the various parameters of the array spots including spot intensity, shape and array homogeneity, calculate the overall array quality score, and save the detailed array quality report in an Excel file. The gold staining technique is fast and sensitive. It can be completed in 10 min and detect less than 1% of the probe amount commonly recommended for microarrays. Compared to the current microarray QC method that utilizes the hybridization of probes with short random sequence oligonucleotides labeled with fluorophore, our gold staining method requires less time for the analysis, reduces the reagent cost, and eliminates the need for the expensive laser scanner. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009; 102: 960–964. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Are data from different gene expression microarray platforms comparable?

Many commercial and custom-made microarray formats are routinely used for large-scale gene expression surveys. Here, we sought to determine the level of concordance between microarray platforms by analyzing breast cancer cell lines with in situ synthesized oligonucleotide arrays (Affymetrix HG-U95v2), commercial cDNA microarrays (Agilent Human 1 cDNA), and custom-made cDNA microarrays from a sequence-validated 13K cDNA library. Gene expression data from the commercial platforms showed good correlations across the experiments (r = 0.78-0.86), whereas the correlations between the custom-made and either of the two commercial platforms were lower (r = 0.62-0.76). Discrepant findings were due to clone errors on the custom-made microarrays, old annotations, or unknown causes. Even within platform, there can be several ways to analyze data that may influence the correlation between platforms. Our results indicate that combining data from different microarray platforms is not straightforward. Variability of the data represents a challenge for developing future diagnostic applications of microarrays.     

Sequence-dependent fluorescence of cyanine dyes on microarrays

Cy3 and Cy5 are among the most commonly used oligonucleotide labeling molecules. Studies of nucleic acid structure and dynamics use these dyes, and they are ubiquitous in microarray experiments. They are sensitive to their environment and have higher quantum yield when bound to DNA. The fluorescent intensity of terminal cyanine dyes is also known to be significantly dependent on the base sequence of the oligonucleotide. We have developed a very precise and high-throughput method to evaluate the sequence dependence of oligonucleotide labeling dyes using microarrays and have applied the method to Cy3 and Cy5. We used light-directed in-situ synthesis of terminally-labeled microarrays to determine the fluorescence intensity of each dye on all 1024 possible 5'-labeled 5-mers. Their intensity is sensitive to all five bases. Their fluorescence is higher with 5' guanines, and adenines in subsequent positions. Cytosine suppresses fluorescence. Intensity falls by half over the range of all 5-mers for Cy3, and two-thirds for Cy5. Labeling with 5'-biotin-streptavidin-Cy3/-Cy5 gives a completely different sequence dependence and greatly reduces fluorescence compared with direct terminal labeling.     

Fiber-Optic Microarray for Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Harmful Algal Bloom Species

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a serious threat to coastal resources, causing a variety of impacts on public health, regional economies, and ecosystems. Plankton analysis is a valuable component of many HAB monitoring and research programs, but the diversity of plankton poses a problem in discriminating toxic from nontoxic species using conventional detection methods. Here we describe a sensitive and specific sandwich hybridization assay that combines fiber-optic microarrays with oligonucleotide probes to detect and enumerate the HAB species Alexandrium fundyense, Alexandrium ostenfeldii, and Pseudo-nitzschia australis. Microarrays were prepared by loading oligonucleotide probe-coupled microspheres (diameter, 3 μm) onto the distal ends of chemically etched imaging fiber bundles. Hybridization of target rRNA from HAB cells to immobilized probes on the microspheres was visualized using Cy3-labeled secondary probes in a sandwich-type assay format. We applied these microarrays to the detection and enumeration of HAB cells in both cultured and field samples. Our study demonstrated a detection limit of approximately 5 cells for all three target organisms within 45 min, without a separate amplification step, in both sample types. We also developed a multiplexed microarray to detect the three HAB species simultaneously, which successfully detected the target organisms, alone and in combination, without cross-reactivity. Our study suggests that fiber-optic microarrays can be used for rapid and sensitive detection and potential enumeration of HAB species in the environment.     

Monitoring of cDNA microarray with common primer target and hybridization specificity with selected targets

Academic researchers are increasingly producing and using cDNA microarrays. Their quality and hybridization specificity are crucial in determining whether the generated data are accurate and interpretable. Here, we describe two methods of monitoring microarray production, the sustainability of DNA attachment, and the specificity of hybridization. The first method consists of labeling an oligonucleotide, which is one of the primers used to amplify all cDNA probes on the array (except for beta-actin and GAPDH) with fluorescent dye and hybridize it to the cDNA microarray. Attachment of the cDNAs on the array after the hybridization procedure was monitored by visualizing fluorescent signals from the spots on the array. In the second method, two selected DNA targets, beta-actin and GAPDH, were labeled with fluorescent dye to hybridize to the cDNA array. Hence, hybridization specificity was demonstrated by obtaining fluorescent signals solely from the genes corresponding to the target.