Genomics

A mouse atlas of gene expression: large-scale digital gene-expression profiles from precisely defined developing C57BL/6J mouse tissues and cells

Working with tags from 72 different LongSAGE libraries, Siddiqui et al. have undertaken the detailed analysis of tissue- and developmental stage–specific mouse gene expression at an unprecedented scale. This examination of 8.55 million different tags yields a wealth of data—now publicly available—on a majority of known genes, as well as thousands of previously unidentified loci.

Siddiqui, A.S. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102, 18485–18490 (2005).

Microfluidics

Multistep synthesis of a radiolabeled imaging probe using integrated microfluidics

The isotopes used in PET imaging can be difficult to work with, as their very short half-lives require rapid (and expensive) processing. Lee et al. describe an innovative microfluidics-based reactor system for fast and potentially scalable probe production and suggest that such systems could provide a faster and cheaper approach for other, similar synthetic chemical processes.

Lee, C.-C. et al. Science 310, 1793–1796 (2005).

Protein biochemistry

Extracellular accumulation of recombinant proteins fused to the carrier protein YebF in Escherichia coli

YebF, an E. coli protein of unknown function, acts as an efficient carrier for the secretion of fused proteins, and Zhang et al. demonstrate that bacteria expressing YebF fused to hydrophobic and hydrophilic proteins from a broad range of sizes will rapidly translocate the fusion proteins intact to the surrounding medium, offering a potentially valuable tool for protein production.

Zhang, G. et al. Nat. Biotechnol. 24, 100–104 (2006).

Microarrays

Lipid microarrays identify key mediators of autoimmune brain inflammation

The pathological foundation of multiple sclerosis (MS) is the autoimmune destruction of the myelin sheaths that insulate nerves. The lipids in the sheath are thought to be a key target in this process, and Kanter et al. have developed a system for generating lipid microarrays, which they use to identify lipids recognized by MS antibodies from among 50 potential targets.

Kanter, J.L. et al. Nat. Med. 12, 138–143 (2006).

Imaging and visualization

Quantum dot–based multiplexed fluorescence resonance energy transfer

The unique chemical and fluorescent properties of quantum dots make them excellent candidates for studies using fluorescence energy resonance transfer (FRET). Clapp et al. take advantage of the narrow fluorescence spectra of quantum dots to perform multiplexed FRET experiments in which up to four potential molecular interactions can be monitored simultaneously.

Clapp, A.R. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, 18212–18221 (2005).