For the cell biologist, identifying changes in gene expression using DNA microarrays is just the start of a long journey from tissue to cell. We discuss how chip users can first filter noise (false-positives) from daunting microarray datasets. Combining laser capture microdissection with real-time polymerase chain reaction and reverse transcription is a helpful follow-up step that allows expression of selected genes to be quantified in populations of recovered cells. The voyage from chip to single cell can be completed using sensitive new in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods based on tyramide signal amplification.
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Acknowledgements
We thank L. Hooper, D. Syder, T. Stappenbeck, M. Wong and P. Sullivan for helpful comments. Work in our laboratories cited here was supported by grants from the NIH and from NEN Life Science Products (to K.A.R.). J.C.M. is a postdoctoral fellow of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
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Mills, J., Roth, K., Cagan, R. et al. DNA microarrays and beyond: completing the journey from tissue to cell. Nat Cell Biol 3, E175–E178 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35087108
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35087108
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