High-throughput genomic and proteomic analysis using microarray technology

Background: High-density microarrays are ideally suited for analyzing thous ands of genes against a small number of samples. The next step in the disco very process is to take the resulting genes of interest and rapidly screen them against thousands of patient samples, tissues, or cell lines to furthe r investigate their involvement in disease risk or the response to medicati on. Methods: We used a microarray technology platform for both single-nucleotid e polymorphisms (SNPs) and protein expression. Each microarray contains up to 250 elements that can be customized for each application. Slides contain ed either a 16- or 96-microarray format (4000-24 000 elements per slide), a llowing the corresponding number of samples to be rapidly processed in para llel. Results: Results for SNP genotyping and protein profiling agreed with resul ts of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis or ELISA, re spectively. Genotyping analyses, using the microarray technology, on large sample sets over multiple polymorphisms in the NAT2 gene were in full agree ment with traditional methodologies, such as sequencing and RFLP analysis. The multiplexed protein microarray had correlation coefficients of 0.82-0.9 9 (depending on analyte) compared with ELISAs. Conclusions: The integrated microarray technology platform is adaptable and versatile, while offering the high-throughput capabilities needed for drug development and discovery applications. (C) 2001 American Association for Clinical Chemistry.