Human transcriptome array for high-throughput clinical studies

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Mar 1;108(9):3707-12. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1019753108. Epub 2011 Feb 11.

Abstract

A 6.9 million-feature oligonucleotide array of the human transcriptome [Glue Grant human transcriptome (GG-H array)] has been developed for high-throughput and cost-effective analyses in clinical studies. This array allows comprehensive examination of gene expression and genome-wide identification of alternative splicing as well as detection of coding SNPs and noncoding transcripts. The performance of the array was examined and compared with mRNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) results over multiple independent replicates of liver and muscle samples. Compared with RNA-Seq of 46 million uniquely mappable reads per replicate, the GG-H array is highly reproducible in estimating gene and exon abundance. Although both platforms detect similar expression changes at the gene level, the GG-H array is more sensitive at the exon level. Deeper sequencing is required to adequately cover low-abundance transcripts. The array has been implemented in a multicenter clinical program and has generated high-quality, reproducible data. Considering the clinical trial requirements of cost, sample availability, and throughput, the GG-H array has a wide range of applications. An emerging approach for large-scale clinical genomic studies is to first use RNA-Seq to the sufficient depth for the discovery of transcriptome elements relevant to the disease process followed by high-throughput and reliable screening of these elements on thousands of patient samples using custom-designed arrays.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing / genetics
  • Exons / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods*
  • Humans
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / methods*
  • Organ Specificity / genetics
  • RNA, Untranslated / genetics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA

Substances

  • RNA, Untranslated

Associated data

  • GEO/GPL11319
  • GEO/GSE26072
  • GEO/GSE26109