This article is part of the supplement: Third Annual MCBIOS Conference. Bioinformatics: A Calculated Discovery

Open Access Proceedings

Improvement in the Reproducibility and Accuracy of DNA Microarray Quantification by Optimizing Hybridization Conditions

Tao Han1,2*, Cathy D Melvin1,2, Leming Shi2, William S Branham1,2, Carrie L Moland1,2, P Scott Pine3, Karol L Thompson3 and James C Fuscoe1,2

Author Affiliations

1 Center for Functional Genomics, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. FDA, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA

2 Division of Systems Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. FDA, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA

3 Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. FDA, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA

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BMC Bioinformatics 2006, 7(Suppl 2):S17 doi:10.1186/1471-2105-7-S2-S17

Published: 26 September 2006

Abstract

Background

DNA microarrays, which have been increasingly used to monitor mRNA transcripts at a global level, can provide detailed insight into cellular processes involved in response to drugs and toxins. This is leading to new understandings of signaling networks that operate in the cell, and the molecular basis of diseases. Custom printed oligonucleotide arrays have proven to be an effective way to facilitate the applications of DNA microarray technology. A successful microarray experiment, however, involves many steps: well-designed oligonucleotide probes, printing, RNA extraction and labeling, hybridization, and imaging. Optimization is essential to generate reliable microarray data.

Results

Hybridization and washing steps are crucial for a successful microarray experiment. By following the hybridization and washing conditions recommended by an oligonucleotide provider, it was found that the expression ratios were compressed greater than expected and data analysis revealed a high degree of non-specific binding. A series of experiments was conducted using rat mixed tissue RNA reference material (MTRRM) and other RNA samples to optimize the hybridization and washing conditions. The optimized hybridization and washing conditions greatly reduced the non-specific binding and improved the accuracy of spot intensity measurements.

Conclusion

The results from the optimized hybridization and washing conditions greatly improved the reproducibility and accuracy of expression ratios. These experiments also suggested the importance of probe designs using better bioinformatics approaches and the need for common reference RNA samples for platform performance evaluation in order to fulfill the potential of DNA microarray technology.