ARS | Publication request: Unification of gene expression data for comparable analyses under stress conditions

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: April 15, 2011
Publication Date: September 19, 2011
Citation: Liu, Z. 2011. Unification of gene expression data for comparable analyses under stress conditions. In: Liu, Z.L., editor. Microbial Stress Tolerance for Biofuels. Microbiology Monographs No. 22. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag. p. 279-299.

Technical Abstract: Gene expression is a fundamental biological process in which genotype rise to the phenotype. As a quantitative measurement, expression of a gene is commonly examined by mRNA abundance that varies in response to different conditions and environmental stimuli. High throughput quantitative measurements of gene expression data have difficulties of reproducibility and comparability due to a lack of standard mRNA quantification references. Efforts have been made to safeguard data fidelity, yet generating quality expression data of inherent value remains a challenge. This not only affects unbiased data assessment and clinical applications but also damages establishing invaluable database resources for the larger scientific community. Unification of multi-source gene expression data is necessary for comparable and comprehensive analyses to gain insight into complex gene interactions and regulatory networks of life events using more integrated approaches of bioinformatics, computational biology, and systems biology. Development and application of commonly accepted quantification references to generate comparable expression data are urgently needed. This chapter provides basics and applications for comparative gene expression analyses using microbial examples under stress conditions.