A Novel System for Automated RNA Isolation: Increasing Throughput Without Increasing Footprint

The High Throughput Biology (HTB) department at GlaxoSmithKline is developing in vitro models to better predict the efficacy of compounds in the clinic. The development and progression of disease is often associated with characteristic changes in gene expression. These “transcriptional profiles” (mRNA gene expression patterns associated with a given disease) can be used as biomarkers to monitor disease states. Therefore, we are utilizing transcriptional profiling as a way to understand diseases and the effects of pharmaceuticals on those diseases. Transcriptional profiling has numerous advantages over other techniques including highly sensitive and highly quantitative assays, simple assay development, and accessibility of nearly the entire genome to transcriptional readouts. Our transcriptional profiling strategy involves isolation of total RNA from samples followed by real-time quantitative PCR assays (Taqman® assays). (JALA 2004;9:146-9)