DNA microarrays with unimolecular hairpin double-stranded DNA probes: fabrication and exploration of sequence-specific DNA/protein interactions

We have fabricated double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) microarrays containing unimolecular hairpin dsDNA probes immobilized on glass slides. The unimolecular hairpin dsDNA microarrays were manufactured by four steps: Firstly, synthesizing single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) oligonucleotides with two reverse-complementary sequences at 3' hydroxyl end and an overhang sequence at 5' amino end. Secondly, microspotting ssDNA on glutaraldehyde-derived glass slide to form ssDNA microarrays. Thirdly, annealing two reverse-complementary sequences to form hairpin primer at 3' end of immobilized ssDNA and thus to create partial-dsDNA microarray. Fourthly, enzymatically extending hairpin primer to convert partial-dsDNA microarrays into complete-dsDNA microarray. The excellent efficiency and high accuracy of the enzymatic synthesis were demonstrated by incorporation of fluorescently labeled dUTPs in Klenow extension and digestion of dsDNA microarrays with restriction endonuclease. The accessibility and specificity of the DNA-binding proteins binding to dsDNA microarrays were verified by binding Cy3-labeled NF-kappaB to dsDNA microarrays. The dsDNA microarrays have great potential to provide a high-throughput platform for investigation of sequence-specific DNA/protein interactions involved in gene expression regulation, restriction and so on.     

Protein microarray on-demand: a novel protein microarray system

We describe a novel, simple and low-cost protein microarray strategy wherein the microarrays are generated by printing expression ready plasmid DNAs onto slides that can be converted into protein arrays on-demand. The printed expression plasmids serve dual purposes as they not only direct the synthesis of the protein of interest; they also serve to capture the newly synthesized proteins through a high affinity DNA-protein interaction. To accomplish this we have exploited the high-affinity binding (approximately 3-7 x 10 (-13) M) of E. coli Tus protein to Ter, a 20 bp DNA sequence involved in the regulation of E. coli DNA replication. In our system, each protein of interest is synthesized as a Tus fusion protein and each expression construct directing the protein synthesis contains embedded Ter DNA sequence. The embedded Ter sequence functions as a capture reagent for the newly synthesized Tus fusion protein. This "all DNA" microarray can be converted to a protein microarray on-demand without need for any additional capture reagent.     

哺乳动物转录因子DNA结合谱

基因差异表达是生物发育和对刺激作出应答的分子基础,转录因子在这种基因差异表达中发挥着重要的调控作用。因此,要弄清楚转录因子调控基因差异表达的机理,就必须鉴定出它们全部的靶基因并构建其操纵的转录调控网络。对基因组DNA的序列特异性结合是转录因子调控基因转录的关键环节,因此,要鉴定转录因子的靶基因,就必须从它们与DNA相互作用的分子水平,鉴定它们能够识别并结合的全部DNA序列,即转录因子DNA结合谱。近年来随着DNA微阵列芯片和高通量DNA测序技术的产生和快速发展,出现了建立转录因子体内及体外DNA结合谱的一系列革命性的新技术,对该领域的研究带来重大影响。这些新技术主要包括建立转录因子体内DNA结合谱的染色质免疫沉淀-芯片技术(ChIP-chip)和染色质免疫沉淀-测序技术(ChIP-Seq),以及建立转录因子体外DNA结合谱的双链DNA微阵列芯片技术(dsDNA microarray)、指数富集配体系统进化-系列分析基因表达技术(SELEX-SAGE)、结合-n-测序技术(Bind-n-Seq)、多重大规模并行SELEX技术(MMP-SELEX)、凝胶迁移实验-测序技术(EMSA-Seq)和高通量测序-荧光配体互作图谱分析技术(HiTS-FLIP)。文章将对这些新技术做一综述。