DNA Chip using Single Stranded Large Circular DNA: Low Background and Stronger Signal Intensity

Massive identification of differentially expressed patterns has been used as a tool to detect genes that are involved in disease related process. We employed circular single stranded sense molecules as probe DNA for a DNA chip. The circular single stranded DNAs derived from 1,152 unigene cDNA clones were purified in a high throughput mode from the culture supernatant of bacterial transformants containing recombinant phagemids and arrayed onto silanized slide glasses. The DNA chip was examined for its utility in detection of differential expression profile by using cDNA hybridization. Hybridization of the single stranded probe DNA were performed with Cy3- or Cy5-labeled target cDNA preparations at $60^\circ$C. Dot scanning performed with the hybridized slide showed 29 up-regulated and 6 down-regulated genes in a cancerous liver tissue when compared to those of adjacent noncancerous liver tissue. These results indicate that the circular single stranded sense molecules can be employed as probe DNA of arrays in order to obtain a precious panel of differentially expressed genes.