Scribd
Upload
25 views4 pages

Expressed Sequence Tags

Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) are short DNA sequences derived from expressed genes, typically 200–800 base pairs long, and are crucial for gene identification and expression studies. They are created by isolating mRNA, converting it to cDNA, and sequencing the resulting clones, providing insights into gene expression patterns. Despite their limitations, ESTs played a significant role in the Human Genome Project and remain valuable for functional genomics and gene mapping.

Uploaded by

qaisar179css
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
25 views4 pages

Expressed Sequence Tags

Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) are short DNA sequences derived from expressed genes, typically 200–800 base pairs long, and are crucial for gene identification and expression studies. They are created by isolating mRNA, converting it to cDNA, and sequencing the resulting clones, providing insights into gene expression patterns. Despite their limitations, ESTs played a significant role in the Human Genome Project and remain valuable for functional genomics and gene mapping.

Uploaded by

qaisar179css
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs)

Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) are short DNA sequences generated from the expressed genes of an
organism. Typically, ESTs are 200–800 base pairs long and are derived from complementary DNA
(cDNA), which is synthesized from messenger RNA (mRNA) extracted from cells. Because they
represent parts of genes that are actively expressed, ESTs are valuable for identifying genes, mapping
gene locations, and studying gene expression patterns.

How ESTs Are Created

Extraction of mRNA:

mRNA is isolated from tissues or cells. Since mRNA reflects the genes that are actively being transcribed
in those cells, it provides a snapshot of gene expression.

Conversion to cDNA:

mRNA is reverse-transcribed into cDNA (complementary DNA) to create stable DNA copies of the
expressed genes. This process helps capture only the coding regions of the genome.

Cloning and Sequencing:

The cDNA molecules are cloned into vectors, often plasmids or phage vectors, which can then be
sequenced.

Sequencing the ends of these cDNA clones produces the ESTs, providing partial sequences of the
expressed genes.
Characteristics of ESTs

Partial Gene Sequences: ESTs usually represent only a fragment of the gene from which they were
derived, often covering the 3' or 5' end of the mRNA.

Gene Expression Snapshot: ESTs reflect gene expression in the particular tissue, cell type, or
developmental stage from which the mRNA was extracted.

Abundance in Databases: Millions of ESTs are stored in public databases like GenBank, providing a vast
resource for gene identification and annotation.

Applications of ESTs

Gene Discovery:

ESTs help identify and catalog genes in different organisms. Since ESTs originate from expressed genes,
they provide insights into the genes being actively used by cells.

Functional Genomics:

Researchers can use ESTs to investigate the functions of specific genes, especially by analyzing their
expression patterns across tissues and conditions.

Gene Mapping:

ESTs act as markers in genome mapping. Since ESTs represent expressed genes with known sequences,
they serve as reference points to locate genes on physical or genetic maps of the genome.

Comparative Genomics:

ESTs from one organism can be compared with sequences from other species, allowing researchers to
identify conserved genes and study evolutionary relationships.

Transcriptome Profiling:

By studying the set of ESTs derived from mRNA in different tissues or conditions, researchers can create
a profile of gene expression in specific tissues, cell types, or developmental stages.

Limitations of ESTs

Incomplete Gene Coverage: ESTs typically represent only a portion of a gene, making it challenging to
reconstruct full gene sequences from EST data alone.

Redundancy and Error: Because many ESTs may represent the same genes (especially highly expressed
ones), they can lead to redundancy in databases, and errors in sequencing can complicate analysis.

Limited to Expressed Genes: ESTs only reflect actively transcribed regions, so they do not capture
non-coding or regulatory regions of the genome.

ESTs in the Context of the Human Genome Project

ESTs were instrumental in the early stages of the Human Genome Project, where they provided a rapid
means to identify and catalog genes before whole-genome sequencing was feasible. They helped populate
databases with human gene sequences and facilitated the discovery of many human genes.

Hence, ESTs are powerful tools in genomics, particularly for gene discovery, expression analysis, and
genome mapping. Although newer technologies, like RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), have largely replaced
EST sequencing, ESTs continue to be valuable resources for gene identification and functional genomics
studies.

You might also like