摘要：

DNA array technologies provide powerful tools for comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic exploration in renal research. Applications of DNA arrays include analysis of disease predisposition by using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarrays ( 1 ), reliable detection of chromosomal deletions and amplifications using microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) ( 2 ), and global gene-expression patterns by cDNA microarrays ( 3 ). A DNA microarray consists of a small membrane or glass slide containing samples of many genes arranged in a regular pattern. Genetic content for DNA arrays may consist of cDNA fragments amplified from extensive (EST) clone libraries by high-throughput polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Production of cDNA arrays is error-prone because of requirements for maintenance and processing of large numbers (tens of thousands) of bacterial stock of expressed sequence tag (EST) clones. Synthetic long oligonucleotide probes 45-mer to 70-mer), designed for optimal sequence specificity and annealing temperatures, can be spotted as an alternative to cDNA fragments, and pose lesser logistic and quality-control demands during array production. Ready-to-print oligonucleotide libraries containing probes for human, mouse, or rat Unigene clusters are available from several vendors. Although precise knowledge of exon-specific probe sequences can be a distinct bioinformatics advantage for spotted oligonucleotides, it may pose a considerable problem for genes with extensive alternative splicing of exons.

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