DNA microarrays on nanoscale-controlled surface

We have developed new surface to ensure a proper spacing between immobilized biomolecules. While DNA microarray on this surface provided each probe DNA with ample space for hybridization with incoming target DNAs, the microarray showed enhanced discrimination efficiency for various types of single nucleotide polymorphism. The high discrimination efficiency holds for all tested cases (100:<1 for internal mismatched cases; 100:<28 for terminal mismatched ones). In addition, by investigating influence of hybridization temperature and washing condition on the fluorescence intensity and the discrimination efficiency with and without controlled mesospacing, it was observed that the nanoscale-controlled surface showed good discrimination efficiency in a wide range of temperature (37–50°C), and hybridization behavior on the surface was in agreement with the solution one. Intriguingly, it was found that washing process after the hybridization was critical for the high discrimination efficiency. For the particular case, washing process was so efficient that only 30 s washing was sufficient to reach the optimal discrimination ratio.     

Nanoparticle-based detection and quantification of DNA with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discrimination selectivity

Sequence-specific DNA detection is important in various biomedical applications such as gene expression profiling, disease diagnosis and treatment, drug discovery and forensic analysis. Here we report a gold nanoparticle-based method that allows DNA detection and quantification and is capable of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discrimination. The precise quantification of single-stranded DNA is due to the formation of defined nanoparticle-DNA conjugate groupings in the presence of target/linker DNA. Conjugate groupings were characterized and quantified by gel electrophoresis. A linear correlation between the amount of target DNA and conjugate groupings was found. For SNP detection, single base mismatch discrimination was achieved for both the end- and center-base mismatch. The method described here may be useful for the development of a simple and quantitative DNA detection assay.     

High-throughput SNP detection using nano-scale engineered biomagnetite

A semi-automated system for the large-scale detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has been developed based on allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization and thermal dissociation curve analysis using nano-scale engineered biomagnetite (bacterial magnetic particles; BacMPs). For reliable detection in large numbers of samples, several conditions for the capture of target DNA on nano-sized BacMPs and the denaturation of double-stranded DNA were optimized. The most efficient target DNA capture was observed using short PCR amplicons (69 bp). Captured DNAs were denatured using 50 mM NaOH. With these optimizations, large-scale SNP detection was performed on 822 samples of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 gene, which is rich in both GC content and repetitive sequences. High reliability for the semi-automated BacMP-based SNP detection system was confirmed following comparison to traditional sequencing-based methods.     

Development of a single tube 640-plex genotyping method for detection of nucleic acid variations on microarrays

Detection of DNA sequence variation is critical to biomedical applications, including disease genetic identification, diagnosis and treatment, drug discovery and forensic analysis. Here, we describe an arrayed primer extension-based genotyping method (APEX-2) that allows multiplex (640-plex) DNA amplification and detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and mutations on microarrays via four-color single-base primer extension. The founding principle of APEX-2 multiplex PCR requires two oligonucleotides per SNP/mutation to generate amplicons containing the position of interest. The same oligonucleotides are then subsequently used as immobilized single-base extension primers on a microarray. The method described here is ideal for SNP or mutation detection analysis, molecular diagnostics and forensic analysis. This robust genetic test has minimal requirements: two primers, two spots on the microarray and a low cost four-color detection system for the targeted site; and provides an advantageous alternative to high-density platforms and low-density detection systems.     

Metal ion CHElate-aSSisted LIGAtion (CHESS LIGA) for SNP detection on microarrays

We developed a metal ion chelate-assisted ligation for SNP detection by microarray. An oligonucleotide probe was separated into two 9-10-mers bearing iminodiacetic residues at the gap point. Duplex formation with the DNA target was possible only if nickel ions were added, but a nucleotide substitution opposite the gap point prevented duplex formation. Here we demonstrate the application of this approach for SNP detection (A1298C) within the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene on a microarray.     

Online resistance monitoring during autometallographic enhancement of colloidal Au labels for DNA analysis

DNA diagnostics at the point-of-care requires biosensors that rely on highly sensitive transducers and are producible at low cost. A promising candidate technology is based on direct electrical detection of autometallographically enhanced Au labeled analytes. We present a substantial improvement to the previously used method by introducing online DC resistance monitoring during the autometallographic enhancement process. Since multi-step enhancement, washing, drying, and measurement cycles are eliminated, our method takes the direct electrical detection method a step further to applicability in a point-of-care environment. The feasibility of the novel method is demonstrated by its application in a simple DNA hybridization assay and the analysis of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) using allele-specific hybridization. Unequivocal discrimination of all possible base pairing combinations in the SNP assay has been achieved. The SNP assay in particular indicates the potential of the method for analyte quantification.     

Free energy of DNA duplex formation on short oligonucleotide microarrays

DNA/DNA duplex formation is the basic mechanism that is used in genome tiling arrays and SNP arrays manufactured by Affymetrix. However, detailed knowledge of the physical process is still lacking. In this study, we show a free energy analysis of DNA/DNA duplex formation these arrays based on the positional-dependent nearest-neighbor (PDNN) model, which was developed previously for describing DNA/RNA duplex formation on expression microarrays. Our results showed that the two ends of a probe contribute less to the stability of the duplexes and that there is a microarray surface effect on binding affinities. We also showed that free energy cost of a single mismatch depends on the bases adjacent to the mismatch site and obtained a comprehensive table of the cost of a single mismatch under all possible combination of adjacent bases. The mismatch costs were found to be correlated with those determined in aqueous solution. We further demonstrate that the DNA copy number estimated from the SNP array correlates negatively with the target length; this is presumably caused by inefficient PCR amplification for long fragments. These results provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms of microarray technology and have implications for microarray design and the interpretation of observed data.     

Quantitative evaluation by minisequencing and microarrays reveals accurate multiplexed SNP genotyping of whole genome amplified DNA

Whole genome amplification (WGA) procedures such as primer extension preamplification (PEP) or multiple displacement amplification (MDA) have the potential to provide an unlimited source of DNA for large-scale genetic studies. We have performed a quantitative evaluation of PEP and MDA for genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using multiplex, four-color fluorescent minisequencing in a microarray format. Forty-five SNPs were genotyped and the WGA methods were evaluated with respect to genotyping success, signal-to-noise ratios, power of genotype discrimination, yield and imbalanced amplification of alleles in the MDA product. Both PEP and MDA products provided genotyping results with a high concordance to genomic DNA. For PEP products the power of genotype discrimination was lower than for MDA due to a 2-fold lower signal-to-noise ratio. MDA products were indistinguishable from genomic DNA in all aspects studied. To obtain faithful representation of the SNP alleles at least 0.3 ng DNA should be used per MDA reaction. We conclude that the use of WGA, and MDA in particular, is a highly promising procedure for producing DNA in sufficient amounts even for genome wide SNP mapping studies.     

An effective method for the in situ synthesis of DNA-CPG conjugates using chemical ligation technology as tools for SNP analysis

In this paper, we report a new method for the SNP analysis by using a chemical ligation (CL) technique on CPG plates with high coupling efficiency. This method showed markedly high match/mismatch discrimination ability. Particularly, replacement of thymidine with 2-thiothymidine in DNA probes used in the CL technology resulted in significant improvement of the base discrimination ability of the thymine base in this system.     

生物素-亲和素偶联探针蛋白芯片检测技术

自行制备一种新型生物素-亲和素偶联探针分子并用于反相蛋白芯片的检测。首先, 将生物素-羊抗鼠IgG与亲和素按照不同比例混合后与鼠IgG蛋白芯片反应, 观察荧光信号的放大情况; 然后以鼠IgG-羊抗鼠IgG体系为研究模式, 对反相蛋白芯片的制备条件进行了考察和优化, 包括荧光分子的非特异性吸附、点样缓冲液的选择以及蛋白的活性等。最后, 采用此偶联探针对反相蛋白芯片进行了检测。结果表明, BSA缓冲液制备的反相蛋白芯片可以防止非特异性吸附, 并有利于保持固定蛋白活性和提高检测限; 另外, 与传统的与生物素-亲和素检测技术相比, 采用生物素-亲和素偶联探针对反相芯片的检测限可以提高4倍左右。表明亲和素-生物素偶联探针成本低、易于合成、并可以与其它的信号放大技术联用进一步提高检测的灵敏度, 有望用于蛋白质芯片的检测。     

生物素-亲和素偶联探针蛋白芯片检测技术

自行制备一种新型生物素-亲和素偶联探针分子并用于反相蛋白芯片的检测。首先, 将生物素-羊抗鼠IgG与亲和素按照不同比例混合后与鼠IgG蛋白芯片反应, 观察荧光信号的放大情况; 然后以鼠IgG-羊抗鼠IgG体系为研究模式, 对反相蛋白芯片的制备条件进行了考察和优化, 包括荧光分子的非特异性吸附、点样缓冲液的选择以及蛋白的活性等。最后, 采用此偶联探针对反相蛋白芯片进行了检测。结果表明, BSA缓冲液制备的反相蛋白芯片可以防止非特异性吸附, 并有利于保持固定蛋白活性和提高检测限; 另外, 与传统的与生物素-亲和素检测技术相比, 采用生物素-亲和素偶联探针对反相芯片的检测限可以提高4倍左右。表明亲和素-生物素偶联探针成本低、易于合成、并可以与其它的信号放大技术联用进一步提高检测的灵敏度, 有望用于蛋白质芯片的检测。     

Ligase-based multiple DNA analysis by using an electrochemical sensor array

We herein report an electrochemical biosensor for the sequence-specific detection of DNA with high discrimination ability for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This DNA sensor was constructed by a pair of flanking probes that "sandwiched" the target. A 16-electrode electrochemical sensor array was employed, each having one individual DNA capture probe immobilized at gold electrodes via gold-thiol chemistry. By coupling with a biotin-tagged detection probe, we were able to detect multiple DNA targets with a single array. In order to realize SNP detection, a ligase-based approach was employed. In this method, both the capture probe and the detection probe were in tandem upon being hybridized with the target. Importantly, we employed a ligase that specifically could ligate tandem sequences only in the absence of mismatches. As a result, when both probes were complementary to the target, they were ligated in the presence of the ligase, thus being retained at the surface during the subsequent stringent washing steps. In contrast, if there existed 1-base mismatch, which could be efficiently recognized by the ligase, the detection probe was not ligated and subsequently washed away. A conjugate of avidin-horseradish peroxidase was then attached to the biotin label at the end of the detection probe via the biotin-avidin bridge. We then electrochemically interrogated the electrical current for the peroxidase-catalyzed reduction of hydrogen peroxide. We demonstrated that the electrochemical signal for the wild-type DNA was significantly larger than that for the sequence harboring the SNP.     

Single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping by mini-primer allele-specific amplification with universal reporter primers for identification of degraded DNA

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is informative for human identification, and much shorter regions are targeted in analysis of biallelic SNP compared with highly polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR). Therefore, SNP genotyping is expected to be more sensitive than STR genotyping of degraded human DNA. To achieve simple, economical, and sensitive SNP genotyping for identification of degraded human DNA, we developed 18 loci for a SNP genotyping technique based on the mini-primer allele-specific amplification (ASA) combined with universal reporter primers (URP). The URP/ASA-based genotyping consisted of two amplifications followed by detection using capillary electrophoresis. The sizes of the target genome fragments ranged from 40 to 67 bp in length. In the Japanese population, the frequencies of minor alleles of 18 SNPs ranged from 0.36 to 0.50, and these SNPs are informative for identification. The success rate of SNP genotyping was much higher than that of STR genotyping of artificially degraded DNA. Moreover, we applied this genotyping method to case samples and showed successful SNP genotyping of severely degraded DNA from a 4-year buffered formalin-fixed tissue sample for human identification.     

cDNA芯片表面核酸固定化的优化

cDNA芯片技术表面核酸固定化影响因素众多,其中涉及选择载体、固定于玻片的DNA片段浓度、玻片DNA片段的固定方法、玻片预处理方法、DNA片段的变性、溶解DNA片段的点样液等等.针对这些因素进行了优化筛选实验,以便于提高cDNA芯片技术检测基因表达的效率.     

基因芯片技术在病毒性病原体检测中的研究进展

基因芯片技术具有高通量、高度平行性、高度自动化的特点。在对传染病病原体的研究中,基因芯片技术已应用于耐药性相关遗传多态性分析、基因分型、生物种系的遗传进化分析、宿主与病原体相互关系分析、病原体检测等。但在病原体检测方面,与检测细菌相比,基因芯片技术对病毒的高通量检测难度较大。简要介绍了目前基因芯片技术在病毒性病原体检测中的研究进展、所采用探针的类型及设计原则、基因芯片杂交结果的影响因素等。     

Development of the Handy Bio-Strand and its application to genotyping of OPRM1 (A118G)

We previously developed a three-dimensional microarray system, the Bio-Strand, which exhibits advantages in automated DNA analysis in combination with our Magtration Technology. In the current study, we have developed a compact system for the Bio-Strand, the Handy Bio-Strand, which consists of several tools for the preparation of Bio-Strand Tip, hybridization, and detection. Using the Handy Bio-Strand, we performed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of OPRM1 (A118G) by allele-specific oligonucleotide competitive hybridization (ASOCH). DNA fragments containing SNP sites were amplified from genomic DNA by PCR and then were fixed on a microporous nylon thread. Thus, prepared Bio-Strand Tip was hybridized with allele-specific Cy5 probes (<15mer), on which the SNP site was designed to be located in the center. By optimizing the amount of competitors, the selectivity of Cy5 probes increased without a drastic signal decrease. OPRM1 (A118G) genotypes of 23 human genomes prepared from whole blood samples were determined by ASOCH using the Handy Bio-Strand. The results were perfectly consistent with those determined by PCR direct sequencing. ASOCH using the Handy Bio-Strand would be a very simple and reliable method for SNP genotyping for small laboratories and hospitals.     

Development of an automated SNP analysis method using a paramagnetic beads handling robot

Biological and medical importance of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has led to development of a wide variety of methods for SNP typing. Aiming for establishing highly reliable and fully automated SNP typing, we have developed the adapter ligation method in combination with the paramagnetic beads handling technology, Magtration(R). The method utilizes sequence specific ligation between the fluorescently labeled adapter and the sample DNAs at the cohesive end produced by a type IIS restriction enzyme. Evaluation of the method using human genomic DNA showed clear discrimination of the three genotypes without ambiguity using the same reaction condition for any SNPs examined. The operations following PCR amplification were automatically performed by the Magtration(R)-based robot that we have previously developed. Multiplex typing of two SNPs in a single reaction by using four fluorescent dyes was successfully preformed at the almost same sensitivity and reliability as the single typing. These results demonstrate that the automated paramagnetic beads handling technology, Magtration(R), is highly adaptable to the automated SNP analysis and that our method best fits to an automated in-house SNP typing for laboratory and medical uses.     

Microarray analysis of microbial virulence factors.

Hybridization with oligonucleotide microchips (microarrays) was used for discrimination among strains of Escherichia coli and other pathogenic enteric bacteria harboring various virulence factors. Oligonucleotide microchips are miniature arrays of gene-specific oligonucleotide probes immobilized on a glass surface. The combination of this technique with the amplification of genetic material by PCR is a powerful tool for the detection of and simultaneous discrimination among food-borne human pathogens. The presence of six genes (eaeA, slt-I, slt-II, fliC, rfbE, and ipaH) encoding bacterial antigenic determinants and virulence factors of bacterial strains was monitored by multiplex PCR followed by hybridization of the denatured PCR product to the gene-specific oligonucleotides on the microchip. The assay was able to detect these virulence factors in 15 Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli strains. The results of the chip analysis were confirmed by hybridization of radiolabeled gene-specific probes to genomic DNA from bacterial colonies. In contrast, gel electrophoretic analysis of the multiplex PCR products used for the microarray analysis produced ambiguous results due to the presence of unexpected and uncharacterized bands. Our results suggest that microarray analysis of microbial virulence factors might be very useful for automated identification and characterization of bacterial pathogens.