Arabidopsis microarray kit featuring more than 14,800 plant gene sequences derived from public domain databases offers the most sensitive coverage to date
Agilent Technologies and Paradigm Genetics have announced the commercial availability of an Arabidopsis microarray kit featuring more than 14,800 plant gene sequences derived from public domain databases.
The specific gene sequences, contained on one industry-standard glass slide, will enable scientists to conduct high-content, genome-wide screening of Arabidopsis thaliana, a model organism used in the research and development of new plants and foods.
The Agilent Arabidopsis microarray kit becomes Agilent's fifth catalogue microarray kit and offers the most comprehensive coverage to date in a 60-mer commercial format.
The kit resulted from combining Paradigm's extensive plant genome experience with Agilent's custom microarray technology access programme.
In this collaboration, Paradigm Genetics used its plant genome expertise to specify, evaluate, and confirm biologically relevant probes.
Agilent designed the microarray using Paradigm data and used its SurePrint technology to produce the highly sensitive Arabidopsis microarray in a 60-mer oligonucleotide format.
"As a direct result of working with Agilent, we were able to create significant breakthroughs in the design of a commercial Arabidopsis microarray that will offer researchers the increased sensitivity they need to accelerate their plant research," said Pat Hurban, group leader, gene expression profiling, for Paradigm. "We standardised our microarray research on Agilent's custom 60-mer microarray platform because it offered us and the market the flexibility to design and iterate microarray experiments quickly while ensuring that we could get printed microarrays with real-time, current genomic content." "The development of this Arabidopsis microarray speaks to Paradigm's commitment to advancing plant genome research," said Barney Saunders, vice president and general manager of Agilent's bioresearch solutions.
"We're ecstatic that our custom microarray platform helped make this possible, further demonstrating the power of Agilent's open, inkjet printed microarray format and 60-mer oligonucleotide capabilities." The Agilent Arabidopsis 1 microarray is delivered in a kit format featuring four identical microarrays on two industry-standard 1"x3" glass slides facilitating easy set-up and processing in most labs.
Ease of use is ensured with a pre-configured set of reagents, hybridisation apparatus and disposables, along with a comprehensive user guide and CD containing the microarray pattern file, gene annotation, and defect list.
The two-color detection format not only allows for differential gene expression analysis in a single microarray experiment, but also helps reduce microarray experiment variability associated with processing single-color microarrays. Agilent has special introductory offers and plans to initially offer the kit for sale in the USA, Canada, and Europe, as well as Japan and selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
