Whole-genome tiling array analysis of Mycobacterium leprae RNA reveals high expression of pseudogenes and noncoding regions.

ABSTRACT: Whole-genome sequence analysis of Mycobacterium leprae has revealed a limited number of protein-coding genes, with half of the genome composed of pseudogenes and noncoding regions. We previously showed that some M. leprae pseudogenes are transcribed at high levels and that their expression levels change following infection. In order to clarify the RNA expression profile of the M. leprae genome, a tiling array in which overlapping 60-mer probes cover the entire 3.3-Mbp genome was designed. The array was hybridized with M. leprae RNA from the SHR/NCrj-rnu nude rat, and the results were compared to results from an open reading frame array and confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR. RNA expression was detected from genes, pseudogenes, and noncoding regions. The signal intensities obtained from

SUBMITTER: Akama T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2687151 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature