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ISAC XX Abstracts on Disc Presented by Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories |
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| Employing DNA microarrays for the analysis of plant gene expression. |
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David Galbraith1, Elizabeth A. Pierson1, Michael Deyholos1, Wenying Xu1, Rene Feyereisen1, Hans Bohnert1, Virginia Walbot2
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| Abstract Number: 6379 Emerging Technologies – Microarray Technology |
| Microarrays provide the means for the large scale analysis of the regulation of gene expression patterns within living organisms. My laboratory is involved in three projects which employ microarrays for characterization of plant gene expression. The first project, funded by the NSF program in Plant Genomics, involves analysis of the changes in plant gene expression that accompany imposition of drought and salinity stress. We are employing microarrays to unravel hierarchical patterns of gene regulation in response to imposed stress. We are also using novel methods for identification and characterization of genes that are coordinately-regulated within specific tissue types, based on flow cytometric analysis and sorting of nuclei. The second project, funded by USDA and the Human Frontier Science Program, involves characterization of the functions and expression patterns of the approximately 340 members of the cytochrome P450 gene superfamily in Arabidopsis thaliana. We are employing microarrays to systematically determine the extent of cross-hybridization between different superfamily members, in order to define sequences that might provide member-specific expression data. We are using this information to examine the tissue specificity of expression of individual P450 genes, as well as their responses to biochemical stimuli. The third project, also funded by the NSF Plant Genome program, aims to sequence at least 50,000 ESTs and cDNAs from maize (Zea mays), and provide this information to the public sector. Our responsibility is the production of microarrays comprising unigene sets from these sequenced ESTs, of which ~25,000 have been produced. We are working to resolve technical problems as well as derive biological information specific to the different projects. This includes the identification of suitable substrates for printing, the reduction of costs associated with microarray production and analysis, debugging programs for commercial arrayers, establishing sensitivity and reproducibility criteria, implementing high throughput methods for probe production, and methods for sample tracking and for data analysis, reduction and archiving. Progress in these technical areas, as well as results from the individual projects, will be discussed. |
| Keywords: plant gene regulation |
