Comparison of Complex DNA Mixtures with Generic Oligonucleotide Microchips

Abstract

The reproducibility of melting curves for repeated hybridizations of target DNA with generic oligonucleotide microchips is shown experimentally to depend on the character of matching between fragments of target DNA and immobilized oligonucleotides. The reproducibility of melting curves is higher for the perfect match duplexes and decreases as the number of mismatched pairs within duplexes increases. This effect was applied to the comparative analysis of complex DNA mixtures. We developed a scheme in which we can identify and discriminate between the probe oligonucleotides responsible for the distinctions between target DNA mixtures. A scheme is illustrated by comparing DNA mixtures corresponding to VD-J genes connected with populations of mRNAs CDR3 TCR Vb (T-cell receptor beta complementarity determining region 3) from the thymus and pancreas of NOD mice. Our results demonstrate that generic microchips can be applied efficiently to the analysis of DNA mixtures.     

Kinetics of hybridization on the oligonucleotide microchips with gel pads

The kinetics of hybridization on the oligonucleotide microchip with gel pads is studied both theoretically and experimentally. The monitoring of kinetics was performed with the measurements of fluorescence intensity produced by the labeled target oligonucleotides. As is shown, the hybridization time depends on the stability of the formed duplexes, the concentrations of target and probe oligonucleotides, and the diffusion of target oligonucleotides in solution and gel pad. The initial stage of hybridization is determined by the flow of target oligonucleotides from solution, then, followed by the diffusive propagation with approximately constant concentration of oligonucleotides at the boundary of gel pad and, finally, by the exponential saturation. The theoretical predictions of hybridization kinetics reveal a good correspondence with the experimental results and may be used for the choice of the optimal hybridization conditions. The possible applications of kinetic hybridization curves to the discrimination problems and assessment of diffusion coefficients in gel pads are briefly discussed. Finally, we discuss the relationships between the binding kinetics and the general functioning of biomolecular microchips.     

Detection of single base polymorphism in p53 gene by ligase detection reaction and rolling circle amplification on microarrays

We combined three modern technologies of single base polymorphism detection in human genome: ligase detection reaction, rolling circle amplification and IMAGE hydro-gel microarrays. Polymorphism in target DNA was tested by selective ligation on microarray. Product of the ligase reaction was determined in microarray gel pads by rolling circle amplification. Two different methods were compared. In first, selective ligation of short oligonucleotides immobilized on microarray was used with subsequent amplification on preformed circle probe ("common circle"). The circle probe was designed especially for human genome research. In second variant, allele-specific padlock probes that may be circularized by selective ligation were immobilized on microarray. Polymorphism of codon 72 in human p53 gene was used as a biological model. It was shown that LDR/RCA on microarray is a quantitative reaction and gives high discrimination of alleles. Principles and perspectives of selective ligation and rolling circle amplification are being discussed.     

Development of a biochip for quantitative determination of two forms of prostate specific antigen using internal calibration curve

Three-dimensional gel-based microchip allowing simultaneous quantitative detection of total (PSAtot) and free (PSAfree) forms of prostate specific antigen in human serum (in a format "one patient-one biochip") was developed. A method, which doesn't require preliminary construction of calibration curves when performing an assay, was applied for quantitative determination of PSAtot and PSAfree. Gel elements with immobilized antigen (PSA) in different concentration, forming an internal calibration curve, were included in a structure of the microchip, in addition to the elements with immobilized antibodies specific against PSAtot and PSAfree. The specialized software "ImaGelAssay" was used for data processing and interpretation. The sensitivity of the assay performed on biochips was 0.3 ng/ml for PSAtot and 0.2 ng/ml for PSAfree. Variation coefficient for the measurements inside one series of microchips didn't exceed 10%. Correlation coefficient between the results of measurements in human sera obtained on biochips and by the standard ELISA method was 0.988 for PSAtot and 0.987 for PSAfree.     

Microchips based on three dimensional gel cells: history and perspective

The review describes the history of creation and development of the microchip technology and its role in the human genome project in Russia. The emphasis is placed on the three-dimensional gel-based microchips developed at the Center of Biological Microchips headed by A.D. Mirzabekov since 1988. The gel-based chips of the last generation, IMAGE chips (Immobilized Micro Array of Gel Elements), have a number of advantages over the previous versions. The microchips are manufactured by photo-initiated copolymerization of gel components and immobilized molecules (DNA, proteins, and ligands). This ensures an even distribution of the immobilized probe throughout the microchip gel element with a high yield (about 50% for oligonucleotides). The use of methacrylamide as a main component of the polymerization mixture resulted in a substantial increase of gel porosity without affecting its mechanical strength and stability, which allowed one to work with the DNA fragments of up to 500 nt in length, as well as with rather large protein molecules. At present, the gel-based microchips are widely applied to address different problems. The generic microchips containing a complete set of possible hexanucleotides are used to reveal the DNA motifs binding with different proteins and to study the DNA-protein interactions. The oligonucleotide microchips are a cheap and reliable tool of diagnostics designed for mass application. Biochips have been developed for identification of the tuberculosis pathogen and its antibiotic-resistant forms; for diagnostics of orthopoxviruses, including the smallpox virus; for diagnostics of the anthrax pathogen; and for identification of chromosomal rearrangements in leukemia patients. The protein microchips can be adapted for further use in proteomics. Bacterial and yeast cells were also immobilized in the gel, maintaining their viability, which open a wide potential for creation biosensors on the basis of microchips.     

Kinetics of hybridization on surface oligonucleotide microchips: theory, experiment, and comparison with hybridization on gel-based microchips

The optimal design of oligonucleotide microchips and efficient discrimination between perfect and mismatch duplexes strongly depend on the external transport of target DNA to the cells with immobilized probes as well as on respective association and dissociation rates at the duplex formation. In this paper we present the relevant theory for hybridization of DNA fragments with oligonucleotide probes immobilized in the cells on flat substrate. With minor modifications, our theory also is applicable to reaction-diffusion hybridization kinetics for the probes immobilized on the surface of microbeads immersed in hybridization solution. The main theoretical predictions are verified with control experiments. Besides that, we compared the characteristics of the surface and gel-based oligonucleotide microchips. The comparison was performed for the chips printed with the same pin robot, for the signals measured with the same devices and processed by the same technique, and for the same hybridization conditions. The sets of probe oligonucleotides and the concentrations of probes in respective solutions used for immobilization on each platform were identical as well. We found that, despite the slower hybridization kinetics, the fluorescence signals and mutation discrimination efficiency appeared to be higher for the gel-based microchips with respect to their surface counterparts even for the relatively short hybridization time about 0.5-1 hour. Both the divergence between signals for perfects and the difference in mutation discrimination efficiency for the counterpart platforms rapidly grow with incubation time. In particular, for hybridization during 3 h the signals for gel-based microchips surpassed their surface counterparts in 5-20 times, while the ratios of signals for perfect-mismatch pairs for gel microchips exceeded the corresponding ratios for surface microchips in 2-4 times. These effects may be attributed to the better immobilization efficiency and to the higher thermodynamic association constants for duplex formation within gel pads.     

Detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">p53</Emphasis> gene by LDR/RCA in hydrogel microarrays

To find single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human genome, three modern technologies of molecular genetic analysis were combined: the ligase detection reaction (LDR), rolling circle amplification (RCA), and immobilized microarray of gel elements (IMAGE). SNPs were detected in target DNA by selective ligation of allele-specific nucleotides in microarrays. The ligation product was assayed in microarray gel pads by RCA. Two variants of microarray analysis were compared. One included selective ligation of short oligonu-cleotides immobilized in a microarray with subsequent amplification with a preformed circular probe (a common circle). The probe was especially designed for human genome research. The other variant employed immobilized allele-specific padlock probes, which could be circularized as a result of selective ligation. Codon 72 SNP of the human p53 gene was used as a model. RCA in microarrays proved to be a quantitative assay and, in combination with LDR, allowed efficient discrimination of alleles. The principles and prospects of LDR/RCA in microarrays are discussed.Translated from Molekulyarnaya Biologiya, Vol. 39, No. 1, 2005, pp. 30–39.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kashkin, Strizhkov, Gryadunov, Surzhikov, Grechishnikova, Kreindlin, Chupeeva, Evseev, Turygin, Mirzabekov.     

Age-related changes in lipid peroxidation in various structures of the central nervous system

Age-related changes in contents of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products and sensitivity to oxidative stress were studied in ten structures of the human brain and three parts of the spinal cord. LPO was found to increase with age in all parts of the central nervous system. This regularity was especially pronounced in the brainstem structures (the hypothalamus, mesencephalon, and myelencephalon) and in the cervical and sacrolumbar enlargements of the spinal cord.Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 2, 2005, pp. 108–115.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Volchegorskii, Shemyakov, Telesheva, Malinovskaya, Turygin.     

Gel-based oligonucleotide microarray approach to analyze protein-ssDNA binding specificity

Gel-based oligonucleotide microarray approach was developed for quantitative profiling of binding affinity of a protein to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). To demonstrate additional capabilities of this method, we analyzed the binding specificity of ribonuclease (RNase) binase from Bacillus intermedius (EC 3.1.27.3) to ssDNA using generic hexamer oligodeoxyribonucleotide microchip. Single-stranded octamer oligonucleotides were immobilized within 3D hemispherical gel pads. The octanucleotides in individual pads 5'-{N}N(1)N(2)N(3)N(4)N(5)N(6){N}-3' consisted of a fixed hexamer motif N(1)N(2)N(3)N(4)N(5)N(6) in the middle and variable parts {N} at the ends, where {N} represent A, C, G and T in equal proportions. The chip has 4096 pads with a complete set of hexamer sequences. The affinity was determined by measuring dissociation of the RNase-ssDNA complexes with the temperature increasing from 0 degrees C to 50 degrees C in quasi-equilibrium conditions. RNase binase showed the highest sequence-specificity of binding to motifs 5'-NNG(A/T/C)GNN-3' with the order of preference: GAG > GTG > GCG. High specificity towards G(A/T/C)G triplets was also confirmed by measuring fluorescent anisotropy of complexes of binase with selected oligodeoxyribonucleotides in solution. The affinity of RNase binase to other 3-nt sequences was also ranked. These results demonstrate the applicability of the method and provide the ground for further investigations of nonenzymatic functions of RNases.