Print ArticleAgilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today introduced the industry's most up-to-date microarray to provide genome-wide coverage of the zebrafish (Danio rerio), and the first commercial whole mouse genome microarray based on the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Mouse Gene Index. The zebrafish and mouse microarrays were developed in collaboration with Icoria (a member of the Toxicogenomics Consortium) and the NIA, respectively.
"This is part of our concerted effort to provide a substantial portfolio of microarray-based genomic tools and solutions for key areas of research, such as stem cells and developmental biology," said Fran DiNuzzo, Agilent vice president and general manager, Integrated Biology Solutions, Life Sciences and Chemical Analysis. "We believe researchers should enjoy easy access to high-quality microarrays featuring current content for their model organism of choice."
Combined with Agilent's integrated portfolio of reagents, hardware, informatics and catalog microarrays, these new designs expand researchers' ability to perform highly detailed genetic research, functional genomics, gene discovery and identification, pathway analysis and drug discovery and development. Model organisms allow cross-species research that can be applied to humans. Researchers can access the content of these microarrays using Agilent's eArray (earray.chem.agilent.com), a Web-based microarray design tool that allows scientists to mine the most up-to-date content of Agilent's catalog arrays and design custom arrays for their own experiments.
Agilent Zebrafish Oligo Microarray
The Agilent Zebrafish Oligo Microarray contains 21,495 probes representing all existing predicted zebrafish genes from the most recent public databases, such as RefSeq, Unigene and TIGR Gene Index. Each array also contains QC probes for monitoring any experimental variations.
The zebrafish is a useful organism in researching gene functions related to vertebrate development and genetics. Zebrafish colonies are inexpensive to maintain and quick to reproduce, and the transparent zebrafish embryos help researchers to follow gene functions and development.
"BMP [bone morphogenetic protein] signaling plays a critical role in early embryonic patterning in zebrafish, as in other organisms," said David Kimelman, professor of biochemistry at the University of Washington. "Our preliminary data suggests that the Agilent microarray, in combination with our transgenic fish expressing an inducible dominant-negative BMP receptor, will be useful for revealing genes that are up- and down-regulated by BMP signaling in fish embryos."
"We have used the array and so far the results look very good," said Stefan Schulte-Merker, a principal investigator from Hubrecht Laboratorium, Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology. "We have compared mutants with wild-type zebrafish larvae, and have seen genes up- and down-regulated that we would expect to be affected. Right now we are looking at the 'novel' genes and use other methods, such as in situ hybridization, to verify the array data."
Agilent Mouse Development Oligo Microarray 44K
The Agilent Mouse Development Oligo Microarray 44K contains 44,041 probes representing all empirical and predicted mouse genes and transcripts from the NIA Mouse Gene Index (lgsun.grc.nia.nih.gov/geneindex4). The index contains transcript sequences derived from the NIA collection of public EST libraries of stem cells and early-stage mouse embryos, making it an excellent tool for the study of stem cells and developmental biology. The index also combines genome assembly sequences from public databases such as RefSeq, Ensembl and Riken. A set of yeast "spike-in" control probes is included to provide more quantitative information on transcript expression.
For detailed product information, please visit www.agilent.com/chem/dna under collaboratively-designed DNA microarray kits.
About Agilent in Genomics
Agilent is a leading provider of microarray-based, genomics research solutions with more than 500 customers worldwide. Agilent's end-to-end solution includes reagents for sample preparation and microarray processing; hardware for sample QC and high-throughput microarray scanning; 60-mer oligo microarrays on industry-standard 1" x 3" glass slides for gene expression; comparative genomic hybridization and chromatin immunoprecipitation applications; custom microarray design services; and industry-leading GeneSpring and Rosetta software products for data analysis.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2004. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.
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