Gene expression profiling of drug metabolism and toxicology markers using a low-density DNA microarray.

DNA microarrays are useful tools to study changes of gene expression in response to a treatment with drugs. Here, we describe the optimization of conditions for the cDNA synthesis and hybridization protocols to be used for a low-density DNA microarray called 'Rat HepatoChips.' This DNA microarray with 59 carefully selected genes could be used to study changes in gene expression levels due to a treatment with xenobiotic.

Quantitative determination of CMV DNA using a combination of competitive PCR amplification and sandwich hybridization.

A quantitative PCR method is proposed that combines the use of a competitive internal standard with the sandwich hybridization of the products. The variability of the PCR efficiency was corrected using a specifically designed internal standard, competitive not only for the PCR amplification, but also for the hybridization on capture probes fixed onto microwells. The design of such standard gave a dynamic range extending from 30-1 million copies of target DNA when the internal standard copy number was fixed to 1000 using a simple colorimetric detection.