What Is mRNA Profiling?

Messenger RNA codes from DNA to begin transcription of amino acids.

In gene expression, a section of a cell's DNA produces messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), which translates DNA's genetic information into amino acids that build proteins. Thus, mRNA profiling --- which is also known as "gene expression profiling" --- is a way of identifying variations in gene expression.

Uses

Researchers use mRNA profiling to determine which genes cells are expressing at a specific time, and to compare gene expression in healthy and diseased individuals. Profiling gene expression can predict the likelihood that an individual will contract a congenital disorder, and indicate his susceptibility to other diseases. It can also help doctors to choose appropriate treatments for such disorders, and predict their outcomes.

Methods

Researchers used to perform mRNA profiling through electrophoresis and dye gels; this procedure tended to be time-consuming and costly, and sometimes led to irreproducible results. As of 2010, microarray technology is lowering the cost and speeding up the process of mRNA profiling.

Future

Studying gene expression through mRNA profiling can help medical and pharmaceutical researchers to identify therapies for diseases associated with particular patterns of gene expression. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, advances in mRNA profiling may lead to rapid, early detection of cancer through molecular diagnostic devices, as well as the ability to tailor pharmaceuticals to individual patients.

References

• National Human Genome Research Institute: Messenger RNA (mRNA)
• Elmhurst College: RNA Types
• National Center for Biotechnology Information: Microarrays Factsheet
• The Human Genome: Gene Expression

Resources

• Yale University: Preparing Samples for Sequencing of mRNA