Construction of a multi-functional cDNA library specific for mouse pancreatic islets and its application to microarray

We have constructed a high-quality and multi-applicable cDNA library specific for mouse pancreatic islets. This is the first pancreatic islet cDNA library created using a recombination-based method, which can readily be converted into other applications including yeast two-hybrid and mammalian expression libraries. Based on sequence data of the library, we constructed a sequence database specific for mouse pancreatic islets. Among the 8882 non-redundant clones, 5799 were classified into specific functional categories using a classification system designed by the Gene Ontology Consortium, 10% of which were "molecular function unknown" genes. We also developed cDNA microarray membranes with 8108 non-redundant clones. Analyses of expression profiles of three different cell lines and of MIN6 cells with or without overexpression of transcription factor NeuroD1 established the usefulness and applicability of our microarrays. The mouse pancreatic islet cDNA library, sequence database, set of clones, and microarrays developed in this study should be useful resources for studies of pancreatic islets and related diseases including diabetes mellitus.