Discovering Stress Related Gene Transcript for Bioreactor Monitoring

GeneXpress Informatics, Inc. (GXI) and Dr. James P. Chambers of the University of Texas at San Antonio propose to use GXI's patent pending, Preferential Display (PD) technology to identify and isolate stress-related gene expression transcripts for the use in developing a real-time bioreactor monitoring system. GXI's Preferential Display (PD) technology is a paradigm shift in high throughput gene expression and analysis. The PD technology eliminates redundant sequences found between tissue types or bioreactor conditions by using a novel combination of biomolecular chemistry methods and fluorescence dye assay techniques. The envisioned PD assay would provide pre-sample preparation resulting in highly purified DNA samples for introduction into a microarray DNA chip for multi-analyte detection of stress related transcripts or biosignatures thus providing real-time monitoring of the bioreactor process and condition. In Phase I, GXI and Dr. Chambers propose to develop and demonstrate the PD technology by identifying unique gene sequences expressed by cells under the effects of simulated bioreactor stress. In Phase II, GXI and Dr. Chambers propose to develop a PD assay format for spaceflight implementation into the dead leg of a rotating wall bioreactor vessels (RWV) or on other cells, rats and tissues from the Biotechnology Facility Rack.