Ace Therapeutics specializes in providing biomarker and target discovery related to psychiatric disorders. Our team has more than 10 years of experience in supporting our clients in anti-psychiatric drug discovery and development. We continue to develop our methods and services to provide gene expression analysis services to researchers worldwide.

Introduction of Gene Expression Analysis in Psychiatry

The sequencing of genomes will undoubtedly open up exciting new avenues for the study of complex diseases such as schizophrenia. In addition, the availability of novel molecular profiling technologies such as microarrays and differential display-PCR now allows a global approach to screening for gene expression abnormalities. The benefit of this approach is that there is no need to assume whether the pathology is primarily caused by genetic and/or environmental factors, as any causal effect will inevitably lead to changes in gene expression.

Fig. 1 Brain-wide relationships between expression and gene-level evidence of association with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. (Clifton NE, et al., 2019)

Gene Expression Analysis Services

• Microarray Analysis

We are sufficient to perform accurate expression analysis of the entire transcriptome. We can achieve unbiased interrogation and subsequent biological interpretation of differentially expressed genes between relevant comparator groups, focusing on the behavior of the gene or pathway of interest.

Note: You can choose from pre-designed or custom designed arrays. Our whole genome array service is available for non-human primates, dog, rat and mouse species.

• qPCR Analysis

We offer a focus on real-time quantitative and qualitative PCR assays, and can also customize and design qPCR assays to meet your requirements. We offer a variety of qPCR platforms that allow us to evaluate over 100 genes in a single sample.

• NGS Analysis

We offer next-generation sequencing (NGS) services for DNA and RNA sample analysis. Our expertise in different sample types and low input volumes is combined with the Illumina NGS platform to provide a range of sequencing options for DNA and RNA sample analysis.

What Can We Help You Achieve in Psychiatry with Gene Expression Analysis?

• Providing new insights into the etiology of depression in humans and developing biomarkers that may be associated with depression
• Providing testing for approximately 260 risk genes for susceptibility to schizophrenia, such as catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), monoamine oxidase (MAO A/B), glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD 67), dysbindin-1, and neuregulin-1
• Detection of correlation between risk genes and efficacy of antipsychotic treatment/pharmacotherapy resistance
• Prediction of high-risk genes for specific diseases

Our Advantages

• Providing absolute and relative quantitative methods
• Method validation according to ICH guidelines
• Providing pre-designed assays or custom-designed assays
• Rigorous sample tracking and handling procedures to prevent errors and cross-contamination
• Controlled laboratory environment to prevent cross-contamination

Ace Therapeutics provides high-quality gene expression analysis services to support research in gene expression, RNA (transcriptome) analysis, biomarker identification and validation, and biologics safety testing related to psychiatric disorders. We use pre-designed, custom-designed and validated real-time qPCR assays in a variety of formats, as well as RNA-Seq methods using next-generation sequencing platforms, to meet our clients' requirements for gene expression accuracy and throughput. Contact us to discuss how we can support you in your project.

Reference

1. Clifton NE, et al. Dynamic expression of genes associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder across development. Transl Psychiatry. 2019, 9(1):74.