Microgenomics: Identification of new expression profiles via small and single-cell sample analyses.

BACKGROUND: Since the sequencing of the human genome has been finished, microgenomics has been booming, employing highly sophisticated, high-throughput platforms. But these mainly chip-based methods can only generate biologically relevant data if the samples investigated consist of homogeneous cell populations, in which no unwanted cells of different specificity and/or developmental stage obscure the results.
METHODS: Different sampling methods have been routinely applied to overcome the problem presented by heterogeneous samples, e.g., global surveys, cell cultures, and microdissection. Various methods of laser-assisted microdissection, employing either positive or negative selection of tissue areas or even single cells, are available.
RESULTS: These laser-assisted microdissection methods allow for fast and precise procurement of extremely small samples. Through subsequent application of recently developed methods of linear mRNA amplification in a pool of isolated total RNA, it has now become possible to perform complex high-throughput RNA expression profiling by microdissecting and processing even single-cell samples.
CONCLUSIONS: Studies using the tools and methods of microgenomics have shed light on how those new approaches will eventually aid in the development of a new generation of diagnostics, e.g., leading to new patient-specific drugs tailored to the requirements assessed by assaying only a few biopsy cells. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.