Nicole L.W. van Hal1, Oscar Vorst2, Evelien Kramer1, Robert D. Hall2, Jaap Keijer1
1RIKILT (State Institute for Quality Control of Agricultural Products), Gene Expression and Detection Centre, P.O. box 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, The Netherlands. 2Plant Research International, Gene Expression and Detection Centre, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
cDNA microarray technology is a technique for studying gene expression and gene expression patterns. Although experimental protocols are available, still limited methodological information on microarray manufacturing, hybridisation and data interpretation has been published. Using a model-system based on the luciferase gene, we investigated the influence of the size, composition and amount of spotted PCR-products on the final hybridisation signal as well as the effect of hybridisation volume, sample concentration and the presence of multiple identical spots on the array. Some of the results will be presented. The information obtained with these studies will help in optimising microarray procedures and is necessary for correct interpretation of signal intensities.