Properties of signal intensities observed with individual probes of GeneChip Rat Gene 1.0 ST Array, an affymetric microarray system.

For proper evaluation of the results of microarray experiments, it is important to understand how the signal intensities of individual probes are determined. Our previous studies revealed that signal intensities of individual probes in the Agilent array system (code G4131F) are largely dependent upon the location of the probes in the mRNA. In the present study, we examined the properties of signal intensities of individual probes in an Affymetrix array system (GeneChip Rat Gene 1.0 ST Array), in which a random primer fused to the T7 promoter sequence is employed. Distinct from the Agilent array system, individual probes used in this Affymetrix array system did not show the probe-location effects, but gave relatively diverse signal intensities. However, the diversities of the signal intensities of these individual probes were not due to experimental error.

Differential effects of cold exposure on gene expression profiles in white versus brown adipose tissue.

The thermogenic function of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is known to be markedly elevated when animals are exposed to the cold, and intensive studies have been carried out to understand the molecular basis enabling effective thermogenesis in cold-exposed animals. In this study, we used microarray analysis to examine the effects of cold exposure of animals on their gene expression profiles in white adipose tissue (WAT), which seems to function as a counterpart tissue of BAT. The results indicate that the effects of cold exposure on the gene expression profiles of WAT were much more moderate than the effects on those of BAT. Possible reasons for the different responses of BAT and WAT to cold exposure are discussed.

Construction of plasmids suitable for in vitro synthesis of full-length mRNAs having a 3'-poly(A)+tail.

In vitro synthesized mRNAs are often used as calibrants in gene expression analysis. In the case of an analytical procedure for gene expression containing a process of reverse transcription such as microarray analysis, full-length mRNAs having a 3'-poly(A)+tail are required as calibrants. However, the preparation of full-length mRNAs having a 3'-poly(A)+tail by using ordinary plasmid vectors is difficult. In this study, we established two plasmid vectors in which the nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3'-poly(A)+tail were included. By simply inserting full-length cDNAs lacking their 3'-poly(A)+tail into established plasmid vectors, full-length mRNAs having a 3'-poly(A)+tail were successfully prepared.

Importance of probe location for quantitative comparison of signal intensities among genes in microarray analysis.

In our previous studies, we demonstrated that expression levels of genes determined by Agilent oligoarray system, code G4130A, could be quantitatively evaluated by spike-in of synthetic full-length mRNAs as standards [Kakuhata R, Watanabe M, Yamamoto T, Akamine R, Yamazaki N, Kataoka M, et al. Possible utilization of in vitro synthesized mRNAs specifically expressed in certain tissues as standards for quantitative evaluation of the results of microarray analysis, J Biochem Biophys Methods 2007;70:755-60]. However, in its successor version (Agilent oligo array system, code G4131F), which was established to enable gene expression analysis over a much wider dynamic range, multiple probes are often utilized for evaluation of expression levels of individual genes; and they showed markedly distinct signal intensities. This result indicates that the observed signal intensities in this new version seemed not to simply reflect the transcript levels of individual genes. To understand the factors influencing the signal intensities of probes, we characterized the properties of the probes used in this new array system and the cRNAs formed during the labeling process. Analysis of cRNAs in the reaction mixture, which were hybridized with the arrays, revealed that the cRNAs were not fully transcribed under the conditions used. For this reason, probes located at the 5' side of the message were found to give lower signals than those at the 3' end; and the observed signal intensities were dependent upon the location of probes in the mRNA. Analysis of the correlation between signal intensities and locations on mRNAs for larger numbers of probes also supported the idea that probe location is one of the major determinants of signal intensities of probes in microarray analysis.

Possible utilization of in vitro synthesized mRNAs specifically expressed in certain tissues as standards for quantitative evaluation of the results of microarray analysis.

To examine the possible usefulness of in vitro synthesized RNA as standards in microarray analysis, we prepared full-length mRNAs encoded by 3 rat metabolic genes for heart/muscle type carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (M-CPTI), uncoupling protein (UCP1), and heart/muscle type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP). Artificial RNA samples were prepared by adding known amounts of these synthetic mRNAs to total RNA from rat liver, and transcript levels of various genes were compared between the prepared artificial RNA samples and total RNA samples of rat liver by using an Agilent oligo microarray system. Upon the addition of these synthetic RNAs, signals from the DNA spots corresponding to these 3 genes were elevated, but those from the DNA spots representing other genes were not markedly influenced. Using the ratio of the increase in signal intensity of DNA spot to the amount of added RNA, we estimated the expression levels of several genes and compared them with the absolute expression levels determined by calibrated Northern analysis. As a result, the absolute transcript levels of 3 genes encoding acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P0, type-1 voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC1), and type-2 glucose transporter (GLUT2) were successfully estimated by this procedure. Furthermore, genes specifically expressed in certain tissues such as UCP1 were concluded to be good candidates as standards for use in microarray analysis.

[External quality assessment of the genetic testings for hematopoietic tumor, CML].

Genetic testings are commonly employed in various fields of clinical medicine and the test items performed at clinical laboratories are increasing rapidly in number. They are utilized to make early and/or definite diagnoses of infectious diseases, leukemia, cancers and molecular inherited diseases and also to monitor the progress of the diseases. However, these genetic testings except for infectious diseases have been developed independently at each clinical laboratory and the test results obtained at each laboratory are not always compatible each other. Under these situations it is widely expected to construct advanced genetic testing systems that can supply standardized data at any of domestic and international clinical laboratories. For the period from April, 1999 to March, 2002 three major clinical laboratories, SRL, Inc., BML, Inc. and MBC, Inc., were consigned by JBA (Japan Bioindustry Association) to collaborate in standardizing the evaluation methods for genetic testing systems among the clinical laboratories. The aim of the study is to develop the standardized genetic testing systems and to propose them as international standard operational procedures to the ISO/TC212 working group. Although one of the most important issues for standardization is the external quality assessment, they have not been carried out in reality. In this study we evaluated the difference of the genetic testing results obtained during the year of 2000 and 2001 among the clinical laboratories. The genetic testings for hematopoietic tumor, CML were selected to be evaluated since they are widely accepted as clinically useful tests.