Multiplex gene expression analysis by TRAC in fungal cultures.

For an increasing number of microorganisms of scientific and industrial interest, the genome sequences have become available, which in turn has enabled genome-wide microarray studies. Global level transcriptomic analysis has flooded the research community with gene expression data from diverse biological states. One of the key aspects of this research is that in many cases the analysis of thousands of genes leads to the discovery of significantly smaller sets of genes, from a few to a few hundred, which provide the essential information about biological systems of interest. As a consequence, the requirement for technologies enabling rapid, cost-effective and quantitative detection of specific gene transcripts has increased. A method named TRAC (Transcript analysis with aid of affinity capture) is a novel solution hybridization and bead-based assay enabling multiplex mRNA target detection simultaneously from large sample numbers. Functionality of TRAC has been shown in a number of applications including microbial quantification and gene expression-based monitoring of biotechnical processes as well as cell-based cancer marker gene screening and siRNA validation.

Glutathione accumulation in ethanol-stat fed-batch culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with a switch to cysteine feeding.

Shot-wise supplementation of cysteine to a yeast culture is a common means of promoting glutathione (GSH) production. In the present work, we study the accumulation kinetics of cysteine, gamma-glutamylcysteine, and GSH and the expression of genes involved in GSH and sulfur metabolism in ethanol-stat fed-batch cultures as a result of switching to a medium enriched with cysteine and glycine. Supplementation in this fashion resulted in a rapid but short-term increase in the rate of GSH synthesis, while the expression of GSH1 decreased. Expression of GSH1 and GSH synthesis rate were observed to revert close to the base level after a few hours. These results indicate that, under such conditions, the control of GSH synthesis at higher concentrations occurred at the enzymatic, rather than the transcriptional level. The incorporation of cysteine into GSH was limited to approximately 40% of the theoretical yield, due to its requirement as a source of sulfur for protein synthesis under conditions whereby the sulfate assimilation pathway is down-regulated. This was supported by the expression profiles of genes involved in cysteine and homocysteine interconversion.

TRAC in high-content gene expression analysis: applications in microbial population studies, process biotechnology and biomedical research.

More than a decade of intensive use of microarray technology has flooded the scientific community with genome-wide expression data of diverse biological states. As a result, connection of the expression signatures of a relatively small number of genes related to, for example, disease states, patient responses or toxicological responses has become possible. Development of tools that enable cost- and time-efficient analysis of such signatures from large sample numbers is currently of major interest for research, drug screening and diagnostic purposes. A method named transcript analysis with aid of affinity capture (TRAC) is a novel solution hybridization and bead-based assay enabling multiplex mRNA target detection simultaneously from large sample numbers. Functionality of TRAC has been shown in a number of applications, including microbial quantification, gene expression-based monitoring of biotechnical processes, cell-based cancer marker gene screening and siRNA validation, which are reviewed here.

Monitoring yeast physiology during very high gravity wort fermentations by frequent analysis of gene expression.

Brewer's yeast experiences constantly changing environmental conditions during wort fermentation. Cells can rapidly adapt to changing surroundings by transcriptional regulation. Changes in genomic expression can indicate the physiological condition of yeast in the brewing process. We monitored, using the transcript analysis with aid of affinity capture (TRAC) method, the expression of some 70 selected genes relevant to wort fermentation at high frequency through 9-10 day fermentations of very high gravity wort (25 degrees P) by an industrial lager strain. Rapid changes in expression occurred during the first hours of fermentations for several genes, e.g. genes involved in maltose metabolism, glycolysis and ergosterol synthesis were strongly upregulated 2-6 h after pitching. By the time yeast growth had stopped (72 h) and total sugars had dropped by about 50%, most selected genes had passed their highest expression levels and total mRNA was less than half the levels during growth. There was an unexpected upregulation of some genes of oxygen-requiring pathways during the final fermentation stages. For five genes, expression of both the Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. bayanus components of the hybrid lager strain were determined. Expression profiles were either markedly different (ADH1, ERG3) or very similar (MALx1, ILV5, ATF1) between these two components. By frequent analysis of a chosen set of genes, TRAC provided a detailed and dynamic picture of the physiological state of the fermenting yeast. This approach offers a possible way to monitor and optimize the performance of yeast in a complex process environment.

Physiological evaluation of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei in production processes by marker gene expression analysis.

BACKGROUND: Biologically relevant molecular markers can be used in evaluation of the physiological state of an organism in biotechnical processes. We monitored at high frequency the expression of 34 marker genes in batch, fed-batch and continuous cultures of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei by the transcriptional analysis method TRAC (TRanscript analysis with the aid of Affinity Capture). Expression of specific genes was normalised either with respect to biomass or to overall polyA RNA concentration. Expressional variation of the genes involved in various process relevant cellular functions, such as protein production, growth and stress responses, was related to process parameters such as specific growth and production rates and substrate and dissolved oxygen concentrations. RESULTS: Gene expression of secreted cellulases and recombinant Melanocarpus albomyces laccase predicted the trends in the corresponding extracellular enzyme production rates and was highest in a narrow "physiological window" in the specific growth rate (micro) range of 0.03-0.05 h-1. Expression of ribosomal protein mRNAs was consistent with the changes in mu. Nine starvation-related genes were found as potential markers for detection of insufficient substrate feed for maintaining optimal protein production. For two genes induced in anaerobic conditions, increasing transcript levels were measured as dissolved oxygen decreased. CONCLUSION: The data obtained by TRAC supported the usefulness of focused and intensive transcriptional analysis in monitoring of biotechnical processes providing thus tools for process optimisation purposes.

Transcriptional monitoring of steady state and effects of anaerobic phases in chemostat cultures of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei.

BACKGROUND: Chemostat cultures are commonly used in production of cellular material for systems-wide biological studies. We have used the novel TRAC (transcript analysis with aid of affinity capture) method to study expression stability of approximately 30 process relevant marker genes in chemostat cultures of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei and its transformant expressing laccase from Melanocarpus albomyces. Transcriptional responses caused by transient oxygen deprivations and production of foreign protein were also studied in T. reesei by TRAC. RESULTS: In cultures with good steady states, the expression of the marker genes varied less than 20% on average between sequential samples for at least 5 or 6 residence times. However, in a number of T. reesei cultures continuous flow did not result in a good steady state. Perturbations to the steady state were always evident at the transcriptional level, even when they were not measurable as changes in biomass or product concentrations. Both unintentional and intentional perturbations of the steady state demonstrated that a number of genes involved in growth, protein production and secretion are sensitive markers for culture disturbances. Exposure to anaerobic conditions caused strong responses at the level of gene expression, but surprisingly the cultures could regain their previous steady state quickly, even after 3 h O2 depletion. The main effect of producing M. albomyces laccase was down-regulation of the native cellulases compared with the host strain. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the usefulness of transcriptional analysis by TRAC in ensuring the quality of chemostat cultures prior to costly and laborious genome-wide analysis. In addition TRAC was shown to be an efficient tool in studying gene expression dynamics in transient conditions.

Rapid and multiplexed transcript analysis of microbial cultures using capillary electophoresis-detectable oligonucleotide probe pools.

A rapid assay for multiplex transcript analysis based on solution hybridization with pools of oligonucleotide probes was developed. In this assay called TRAC (transcript analysis with aid of affinity capture) the mRNAs to be studied are hybridized with gene-specific detection probe pools and biotinylated oligo(dT) and captured on streptavidin-coated magnetic particles. Unbound sample material and nonspecifically bound detection probes are removed and the target-specific probes are eluted and detected by capillary electrophoresis. Simultaneous treatment of 96 samples was automated using a magnetic bead particle processor. The assay enabled detection of in vitro transcribed RNA at the level of 30 amol (20 pg) and over a 300-fold linear range. Besides extracted RNA, crude cell lysates were directly used as samples. The assay was used for transcriptional analysis of selected mRNAs in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei in two experimental conditions. TRAC analysis was highly reproducible, providing expression results that were consistent with conventional Northern blot analysis. The whole procedure starting from sample collecting can be carried out in 2 h, making this assay suitable for high-throughput analysis of a limited set of mRNAs e.g. in gene expression monitoring of production organism in microbial bioprocesses.