细胞筛选平台在人类功能基因组研究中的应用

人类基因组全序列的精细图已完成,当前生命科学面临的重要任务就是如何将基因组序列信息转化为基因的功能信息,了解生命活动的分子机理,改善人类健康,为生物技术发展提供动力 . 在一系列功能基因组研究新技术中,高通量 (high-throughput) 和高内涵 (high-content) 的细胞筛选技术平台已经显示出巨大潜力,发挥着越来越重要的作用 . 通过在体外培养的哺乳动物细胞中基因过表达或抑制基因表达,分析所产生信号传导通路和 / 或细胞表型改变,可以直接发现基因功能 . 近年来一些技术上的进展,使细胞筛选平台具有微量、自动、高效、高通量,以及可以系统研究的特点,已经成为功能基因组研究的核心方法之一 . 近 2~3 年来已经出现一批成功应用细胞筛选平台进行大规模功能基因组研究的报道 . 我国在这一领域的研究也开始起步,将对我国生物技术的源头创新研究产生深远的影响 .

Applications of Cell-based Screening Assays in Human Functional Genomics Research

After the full sequence map of human genome has been completed, the great challenges for the life scientists is how to transform the genomic sequence into gene function information, to elucidate the molecular mechanism of biological process, to improve human health and supply impetus powers to the progression of biotechnology. Among the series of novel functional genomic technologies, high-throughput and high-content cell-based screen platforms have showed enormous potential and will play more and more important roles in human functional genomics research. By overexpression or knock-down of genes in cultured mammalian cells in vitro and analysing the consequent changes in signal transduction pathways and/or cell phenotypes, gene functions can be identified directly. With the recent technique progresses, the cell-based screening assays can possess the characteristics of miniaturization, automation, high efficiency, high-throughput and feasibility, and have become one of the pivotal methods in functional genomics. In the last 2~3 years, the successful applications of cell-based screen technology in large-scale functional genomics research have been reported in the literatures. In China, investigation in this field has been set out, and it will have profound influences on boosting the R & D of Chinese biotechnology.