Optimization of Cell-Based cDNA Microarray Conditions for Gene Functional Studies in HEK293 Cells.

Since the cell-based cDNA microarray (CBCM) technique has been a useful tool for gain-of-function studies, many investigators have used CBCMs to identify interesting genes. However, this method requires better-established conditions to ensure high reverse transfection efficiency without cross-contamination. Therefore, we optimized CBCM techniques through various means.

Development of Cell-Defined Lentivirus-Based Microarray for Mammalian Cells.

Although reverse transfection cell microarray (RTCM) is a powerful tool for mammalian cell studies, the technique is not appropriate for cells that are difficult to transfect. The lentivirus-infected cell microarray (LICM) technique was designed to improve overall efficiency. However, LICM presents new challenges because individual lentiviral particles can spread through the cell population, leading to cross-contamination.

The monitoring of gene functions on a cell-defined siRNA microarray in human bone marrow stromal and U2OS cells.

Here, we developed a cell defined siRNA microarray (CDSM) for human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) designed to control the culture of cells inside the spot area without reducing the efficiency of siRNA silencing, "Development of a cell-defined siRNA microarray for analysis of gene functionin human bone marrow stromal cells" (Kim et al., 2016 [1]). First, we confirmed that p65 protein inhibition efficiency was maintained when hBMSCs were culture for 7 days on the siRNA spot, and siRNA spot activity remained in spite of long term storage (10 days and 2 months).

Development of a cell-defined siRNA microarray for analysis of gene function in human bone marrow stromal cells.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) screening approaches have provided useful tools for the validation of genetic functions; however, image-based siRNA screening using multiwell plates requires large numbers of cells and time, which could be the barrier in application for gene mechanisms study using human adult cells. Therefore, we developed the advanced method with the cell-defined siRNA microarray (CDSM), for functional analysis of genes in small scale within slide glass using human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs). We designed cell spot system with biomaterials (sucrose, gelatin, poly-L-lysine and matrigel) to control the attachment of hBMSCs inside spot area on three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel-coated slides.

Phenotypic MicroRNA Microarrays.

Microarray technology has become a very popular approach in cases where multiple experiments need to be conducted repeatedly or done with a variety of samples. In our lab, we are applying our high density spots microarray approach to microscopy visualization of the effects of transiently introduced siRNA or cDNA on cellular morphology or phenotype. In this publication, we are discussing the possibility of using this micro-scale high throughput process to study the role of microRNAs in the biology of selected cellular models.

Quantum dot-based screening system for discovery of g protein-coupled receptor agonists.

Cellular imaging has emerged as an important tool to unravel biological complexity and to accelerate the drug-discovery process, including cell-based screening, target identification, and mechanism of action studies. Recently, semiconductor nanoparticles known as quantum dots (QDs) have attracted great interest in cellular imaging applications due to their unique photophysical properties such as size, tunable optical property, multiplexing capability, and photostability. Herein, we show that QDs can also be applied to assay development and eventually to high-throughput/content screening (HTS/HCS) for drug discovery.

Automated genome-wide visual profiling of cellular proteins involved in HIV infection.

Recent genome-wide RNAi screens have identified >842 human genes that affect the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cycle. The list of genes implicated in infection differs between screens, and there is minimal overlap. A reason for this variance is the interdependence of HIV infection and host cell function, producing a multitude of indirect or pleiotropic cellular effects affecting the viral infection during RNAi screening.

Visual genome-wide RNAi screening to identify human host factors required for Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical infection that affects millions of people in the Americas. Current chemotherapy relies on only two drugs that have limited efficacy and considerable side effects. Therefore, the development of new and more effective drugs is of paramount importance.

High-content classification of nucleocytoplasmic import or export inhibitors.

Transcription factors of the nuclear factor kappa B family are the paradigm for signaling dependent nuclear translocation and are ideally suited to analysis through image-based chemical genetic screening. The authors describe combining high-content image analysis with a compound screen to identify compounds affecting either nuclear import or export. Validation in silico and in vitro determined an EC(50) for the nuclear export blocker leptomycin B of 2.

Alternative promotion of the mouse acyl-CoA synthetase 6 (mAcsl6) gene mediates the expression of multiple transcripts with 5'-end heterogeneity: genetic organization of mAcsl6 variants.

We report four variants and alternative promoter usage for the mouse acyl-CoA synthetase 6 (mAcsl6) gene. The variants, which were organized into 26 exons and 25 introns spanning 55 kb of DNA on mouse chromosome 11, were classified according to their 5'-UTRs and alternative splicing of exon 13. Alignment of the nucleotide sequences showed that the mAcsl6 variant 1 (mAcsl6_v1) and mAcsl6_v2 used a different promoter and had different splicing patterns than mAcsl6_v3 and mAcsl6_v4.