下一代测序技术在干细胞转录调控研究中的应用

基因转录调控及其机制分析是后基因组时代生物学研究的重点之一。随着高通量测序技术的发展,人们可以从不同层面研究基因的转录调控行为,从转录组、转录因子结合,到染色质局部结构和整体空间构象,可系统分析转录调控的分子机制。干细胞分化过程的转录调控分析对研究再生医学和理解细胞癌变机制等具有重要意义。本文综述了下一代测序技术在干细胞转录调控研究中的应用,包括：(1)基于基因芯片或RNA测序的转录组分析;(2)基于染色体免疫共沉淀(chromatin immunoprecipitation, ChIP)测序的表观基因组和转录因子结合信息的分析;(3)基于DNase 酶切测序(DNase-Seq)的染色质开放性分析;(4)基于高通量染色质构象捕获(high-throughput chromosome conformation capture, Hi-C)技术的染色体远程相互作用分析。从基因表达谱、转录因子结合和基因组三维结构等层面展开介绍,重点关注了一些多能性转录因子(Oct4、Sox2和Nanog等)在维持干细胞干性和分化中的调控作用,以期为干细胞转录调控的研究提供借鉴和参考。     

Microarray data quality - review of current developments

DNA microarray technologies have evolved rapidly to become a key high-throughput technology for the simultaneous measurement of the relative expression levels of thousands of individual genes. However, despite the widespread adoption of DNA microarray technology, there remains considerable uncertainty and scepticism regarding data obtained using these technologies. Comparing results from seemingly identical experiments from different laboratories or even from different days can prove challenging; these challenges increase further when data from different array platforms need to be compared. To comply with emerging regulations, the quality of the data generated from array experiments needs to be clearly demonstrated. This review describes several initiatives that aim to improve confidence in data generated by array experiments, including initiatives to develop standards for data reporting and storage, external spike-in controls, quality control procedures, best practice guidelines, and quality metrics.