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Aptamer microarrays are a promising high-throughput method for ultrasensitive detection of multiple analytes, but although much is known about the optimal synthesis of oligonucleotide microarrays used in hybridization-based genomics applications, the bioaffinity interactions between aptamers and their targets is qualitatively different and requires significant changes to synthesis parameters. Focusing on streptavidin-binding DNA aptamers, we employed light-directed in situ synthesis of microarrays to analyze the effects of sequence fidelity, linker length, surface probe density, and substrate functionalization on detection sensitivity. Direct comparison with oligonucleotide hybridization experiments indicates that aptamer microarrays are significantly more sensitive to sequence fidelity and substrate functionalization and have different optimal linker length and surface probe density requirements. Whereas microarray hybridization probes generate maximum signal with multiple deletions, aptamer sequences with the same deletion rate result in a 3-fold binding signal reduction compared with the same sequences synthesized for maximized sequence fidelity. The highest hybridization signal was obtained with dT 5mer linkers, and the highest aptamer signal was obtained with dT 11mers, with shorter aptamer linkers significantly reducing the binding signal. The probe hybridization signal was found to be more sensitive to molecular crowding, whereas the aptamer probe signal does not appear to be constrained within the density of functional surface groups commonly used to synthesize microarrays.

Angiogenesis is a process of new blood vessel formation from pre-existing ones. The most important steps in angiogenesis include detachment, proliferation, migration, homing and differentiation of vascular wall cells, which are mainly endothelial cells and their progenitors. The study focused on the effect of beta-carotene (BC) supplementation (12,000 mg/kg) in the diet on angiogenesis in Balb/c mice. Female Balb/c mice were fed for 5 weeks with two different diets: with BC or without BC supplementation. After 4 weeks of feeding, Balb/c mice were injected subcutaneously with two matrigel plugs with or without basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Six days later, the animals were killed, and the matrigel plugs were used for immunohistochemical staining with CD31 antibody and for gene expression analysis. Microarray and Real-Time PCR data showed down-regulation of genes involved in proliferation and up-regulation of genes encoding inhibitors of apoptosis, proteins regulating cell adhesion, matrix-degrading enzymes and proteins involved in the VEGF pathway. The results of this study demonstrated that BC proangiogenic activity (with or without bFGF) in vivo seemed to be more significantly associated with cells' protection from apoptosis and their stimulation of chemotaxis/homing than cell proliferation.

Beta-carotene (BC) was found to enhance lung cancer risk in smokers. This adverse effect was unexpected because BC was thought to act as an anti-oxidant against cigarette smoke-derived radicals. These radicals can directly or indirectly damage DNA, leading to the formation of pro-mutagenic DNA lesions such as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) and 3-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentafuranosyl)pyrimido[1,2-alpha]purin-10(3H)-one deoxyguanosine (M(1)dG). Later, it was suggested that high concentrations of BC could also result in pro-oxidant effects. Therefore, we investigated whether high but physiologically feasible concentrations of BC were able to alter (i) the formation of radicals in vitro assessed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, (ii) the levels of 8-oxo-dG and M(1)dG in vitro in lung epithelial cells after incubation with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and the smoke-derived carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and (iii) the levels of 8-oxo-dG and M(1)dG in vivo in ferrets' lung after chronic exposure to B[a]P. BC increased in vitro hydroxyl radical formation in the Fenton reaction but inhibited the formation of carbon-centered radicals. Similarly, BC was able to enhance 8-oxo-dG in vitro in lung epithelial cells. On the other hand, BC significantly inhibited M(1)dG formation in lung epithelial cells, especially after induction of M(1)dG by H(2)O(2) or B[a]P. Finally, BC supplementation of ferrets also resulted in a significant decrease in M(1)dG, but in contrast to the in vitro experiments, no effect was observed on 8-oxo-dG levels, probably because of increased base excision repair capacities as assessed by a modified comet assay. These data indicate that the fate of BC being a pro- or anti-oxidant strongly depends on the type of radical involved.

Background: Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), in particular the long chain marine fatty acids docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA), are linked to many health benefits in humans and in animal models. Little is known of the molecular response to DHA and EPA of the small intestine, and the potential contribution of this organ to the beneficial effects of these fatty acids. Here, we assessed gene expression changes induced by DHA and EPA in the wildtype C57BL/6J murine small intestine using whole genome microarrays and functionally characterized the most prominent biological process., Results: The main biological process affected based on gene expression analysis was lipid metabolism. Fatty acid uptake, peroxisomal and mitochondrial beta-oxidation, and omega-oxidation of fatty acids were all increased. Quantitative real time PCR, and -- in a second animal experiment -- intestinal fatty acid oxidation measurements confirmed significant gene expression differences and showed in a dose-dependent manner significant changes at biological functional level. Furthermore, no major changes in the expression of lipid metabolism genes were observed in the colon., Conclusion: We show that marine n-3 fatty acids regulate small intestinal gene expression and increase fatty acid oxidation. Since this organ contributes significantly to whole organism energy use, this effect on the small intestine may well contribute to the beneficial physiological effects of marine PUFAs under conditions that will normally lead to development of obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes.

A decrease in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is characteristic of many cancer types and, in particular, of clear cell renal carcinoma (CCRC) deficient in von Hippel-Lindau (vhl) gene. In the absence of functional pVHL, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) 1-alpha and HIF2-alpha subunits are stabilized, which induces the transcription of many genes including those involved in glycolysis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. Transfection of these cells with vhl is known to restore HIF-alpha subunit degradation and to reduce glycolytic genes transcription. We show that such transfection with vhl of 786-0 CCRC (which are devoid of HIF1-alpha) also increased the content of respiratory chain subunits. However, the levels of most transcripts encoding OXPHOS subunits were not modified. Inhibition of HIF2-alpha synthesis by RNA interference in pVHL-deficient 786-0 CCRC also restored respiratory chain subunit content and clearly demonstrated a key role of HIF in OXPHOS regulation. In agreement with these observations, stabilization of HIF-alpha subunit by CoCl(2) decreased respiratory chain subunit levels in CCRC cells expressing pVHL. In addition, HIF stimulated ROS production and mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase content. OXPHOS subunit content was also decreased by added H(2)O(2.) Interestingly, desferrioxamine (DFO) that also stabilized HIF did not decrease respiratory chain subunit level. While CoCl(2) significantly stimulates ROS production, DFO is known to prevent hydroxyl radical production by inhibiting Fenton reactions. This indicates that the HIF-induced decrease in OXPHOS is at least in part mediated by hydroxyl radical production.

Microarray technology makes it feasible to analyse the expression of thousands of different gene elements in a single experiment. Most informative are 'whole genome' arrays, where all gene expression products of a single species or variety are represented. Such arrays are now available for a limited number of model species. However, for other, less well-documented species other routes are still necessary to obtain informative arrays. This includes the use of cDNA libraries. To enhance the amount of information that can be obtained from cDNA libraries, redundancy needs to be minimised, and the number of cDNAs relevant for the conditions of interest needs to be increased. Here, we used representational difference analysis (RDA), a mRNA subtraction procedure, as a tool to enhance the efficiency of cDNA libraries to be used to generate microarrays. Tomato was chosen as a model system for a less well-documented species. cDNA libraries for two distinct physiological conditions of tomato fruits, red and green, were made. The libraries were characterized by sequencing and hybridisation analysis. The RDA procedure was shown to be effective in selecting for genes of relevance for the physiological conditions under investigation, and against constitutively expressed genes. At the same time, redundancy was reduced, but complete normalisation was not obtained, and subsequent sequence analysis will be required to obtain non-redundant arrays. Further, known and putative ripening-related cDNAs were identified in hybridisation experiments on the basis of RNA populations as isolated from the green and red stage of ripening.

Overweight and obesity lead to higher morbidity risks, which are alleviated even by mild weight loss. To gain insight in the molecular effects of weight loss in adipose tissue, we analyzed the effects of short-term dietary restriction (DR) on mice fed a low-fat diet (lean mice) or a high-fat diet (obese mice). Female C57Bl6/J mice on both diets were on DR until an average body weight loss of 20%, which was achieved in 8 to 12 days depending on body weight at the start of DR. Plasma free fatty acids and blood glucose levels decreased significantly on DR. In the (restricted) low-fat diet groups, gene expression analysis using adipose-enriched cDNA microarrays revealed only two transcripts to be significant differentially expressed by DR: up-regulation of malic enzyme (Mod1) and down-regulation of major urinary protein 1 (Mup1). Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed these findings and showed, for the high-fat diet groups, an identical expression pattern for Mup1, whereas Mod1 showed an opposed gene expression pattern for the high-fat diet groups. In conclusion, initial weight loss induces transcriptional changes only in a very small number of adipose genes, which also depends on the (restricted) diet used.

Although in vitro models are often used in beta-carotene research, knowledge about the uptake and metabolism of beta-carotene in cell lines is lacking. We measured by HPLC the intracellular levels of beta-carotene and its metabolites in 9 human intestinal and lung cell lines after exposure to 1 microM beta-carotene during 2, 6, 30, 54 h, and 3 weeks. In three colorectal carcinoma cell lines only low levels of beta-carotene could be detected and an apparent linear increase in intracellular beta-carotene was observed during the whole exposure period of 3 weeks. The remaining cell lines (an SV40 transformed colon cell line, a small intestinal carcinoma cell line and several lung cell lines) had medium or high intracellular beta-carotene levels. In these cell lines intracellular beta-carotene quickly increased during the first 54 h of exposure and after 3 weeks no further increase was observed, suggesting a stable level of beta-carotene after 54 h. Estimated intracellular concentrations at steady-state levels varied between 2 and 5 microM (low) or 9 and 55 microM (medium/high). Our results seem to indicate that an active uptake mechanism of beta-carotene exists in at least a subset of cell lines. Seven different beta-carotene metabolites were detected in the various cell lines (cis-carotene, retinol, three epoxy-carotenes, and two retinyl esters). Metabolite levels were the highest in cells with medium or high beta-carotene levels. Each cell line appeared to have a distinct metabolite profile. No intestinal or lung specific pattern could be found, but two epoxy-carotene metabolites were not detectable in the colon cell lines.

Beta-carotene is a natural food component that is present in fruits and vegetables and is also used as a food colorant and a supplement. Beta-carotene is an anti-oxidant and a source of vitamin A. It is endowed with health beneficial properties, but a number of studies showed that with high intakes it may increase the risk for lung cancer in at risk individuals (heavy smokers, asbestos workers and alcohol users). To establish the window of benefit, it is necessary to identify early markers of effect and to obtain insight in the mechanism of action of beta-carotene, in the absence and presence of environmental risk factors. Genomics technologies are well suited to dissect the mechanisms of action and identify the markers of effect. Human cell lines can be used to analyse the effects of beta-carotene, but exposure studies with beta-carotene show that cell lines display a widely variant behaviour, which hampers translation to the in vivo situation in humans. Alternatively, animal studies can be used. Especially the ferret seems to be a good model, but little sequence information of this species is available. However, heterologous hybridization on human cDNA seems possible and provides and a new tool for molecular analysis of health effects of beta-carotene.

We show that the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) can be used as a relatively simple statistical measure to assess methodological and biological variation in DNA microarray analysis. The ICC is a measure that determines the reproducibility of a variable, which can easily be calculated from an ANOVA table. It is based on the assessment of both systematic deviation and random variation, and it facilitates comparison of multiple samples at once. We used the ICC first to optimize our microarray data normalization method and found that the use of median values instead of mean values improves data correction. Then the reproducibility of different labeling methods was evaluated, and labeling by indirect fluorescent dye incorporation appeared to be more reproducible than direct labeling. Finally, we determined optimal biopsy sampling by analyzing overall variation in gene expression. The variation in gene expression of rectal biopsies within persons decreased when two biopsies were taken instead of one, but it did not considerably improve when more than two biopsies were taken from one person, indicating that it is sufficient to use two biopsies per person for DNA microarray analysis under our experimental conditions. To optimize the accuracy of the microarray data, biopsies from at least six different persons should be used per group.

The aim of this study was to identify candidate genes for visceral obesity by screening for genes strongly differentially expressed between human subcutaneous and visceral adipose depots. A cDNA microarray with human adipose-derived cDNAs was used as an initial screening to identify genes that are potentially differentially expressed between human subcutaneous and visceral abdominal fat tissues. For the two best candidates, carboxypeptidase E (CPE) and thrombospondin-1 (THBS1) (EST N72406), real-time RT-PCR was performed to confirm their depot specific expression in extremely obese individuals. Both genes appeared to be strongly differentially expressed, having a higher expression in the visceral depot than in the subcutaneous one. For THBS1, the difference in expression between the depots was greater in women than in men. The involvement of CPE and THBS1 in obesity allows us to suggest that the physiological processes controlled by these genes contribute to depot and gender-related differences in the metabolic complications of obesity.

Gene expression profiling through the application of microarrays provides comprehensive assessment of gene expression levels in a given tissue or cell population, as well as information on changes of gene expression in altered physiological or pathological situations. Microarrays are particularly suited to study interactions in the regulation of large numbers of different genes, since their expression is analyzed simultaneously. For improved understanding of the physiology of adipose tissue, and consequently obesity and diabetes, identification of covariability in gene expression was attempted by analysis of the individual variability of gene expression in subcutaneous white and brown fat of the Siberian dwarf hamster using microarrays containing approximately 300 cDNA fragments of adipose genes. No sex-dependant variability in gene expression could be found, and overall individual variability was rather low, with more than 80% of clones showing a coefficient of variation lower than 30%. Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) displayed a high variability of gene expression in brown fat, which was negatively correlated with the gene expression of complement factor B (FactB), implying a possible functional relationship.

cDNA microarray technology is becoming the technique of choice for studying gene expression and gene expression patterns. Although experimental protocols are available, only limited methodological information on microarray manufacture, hybridization, and signal interpretation has been published. The aim of this paper is to provide more insight into the practical aspects of microarray construction and hybridization. The influence of the size, composition, and concentration of the spotted DNA fragments on the final hybridization signal and the effect of hybridization volume, sample concentration, and sample depletion have been tested and are discussed.