Microarrays and Gene Expression Profiling Applied to Drug Research

Abstract

Abstract DNA microarray technology combines the recent advances in genome sequence availability with high‐speed robotics. Arrays of gene sequences representing entire genomes, including the human genome, have been produced, allowing the analysis of expression for all genes in a genome in a single experiment. Global gene expression profiles of cells are being explored in a broad range of biomedical applications, from identifying cell lineages to predicting response to therapy in patients. The basic principles of microarray fabrication and analysis are presented in this chapter. Current applications of gene expression profiling to drug development, including target identification, and mechanism of action are reviewed. Finally, the potential for new applications of this technology in drug discovery and development is discussed.