Monitoring global messenger RNA changes in externally controlled microarray experiments

Jeroen van de Peppel, Patrick Kemmeren, Harm van Bakel, Marijana Radonjic, Dik van Leenen, Frank C.P. Holstege

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

149 Scopus citations

Abstract

Expression profiling is a universal tool, with a range of applications that benefit from the accurate determination of differential gene expression. To allow normalization using endogenous transcript levels, current microarray analyses assume that relatively few transcripts vary, or that any changes that occur are balanced. When normalization using endogenous genes is carried out, changes in expression levels are calculated relative to the behaviour of most of the transcripts. This does not reflect absolute changes if global shifts in messenger RNA populations occur. Using external RNA controls, we have set up microarray experiments to monitor global changes. The levels of most mRNAs were found to change during yeast stationary phase and human heat shock when external controls were included. Even small global changes had a significant effect on the number of genes reported as being differentially expressed. This suggests that global mRNA changes occur more frequently than is assumed at present, and shows that monitoring such effects may be important for the accurate determination of changes in gene expression.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)387-393
Number of pages7
JournalEMBO Reports
Volume4
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2003
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Monitoring global messenger RNA changes in externally controlled microarray experiments'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this