Next-generation sequencing technologies for gene expression profiling in plants

Abstract

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) provides a better approach to gene expression profiling with several advantages. The power of NGS along with novel molecular techniques and computational tools allow the researchers to perform the gene expression profiling to reveal transcriptional complexity of an organism and answering several biological questions. Although many studies for gene expression profiling related to various aspects have been performed in animal systems revealing unprecedented levels of complexity of transcriptomes, their use is still limited in plant biology. This review describes the use of NGS technologies with respect to gene expression profiling, bioinformatics challenges associated with data analysis and advances made so far in the plant biology research. We anticipate many more studies in recent future, which will surely advance our understanding of the complexity of plant genomes. © The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.