sequencing the complete genome of mycobacterium tuberculosis h37rv is a major milestone in the genome project and it sheds new light in our fight with tuberculosis .
the genome contains around 4000 genes ( protein - coding sequences ) in the original genome annotation .
however , we have found that the intergenic regions can exhibit expression signals , as evidenced by microarray hybridization .
we conducted a genome - wide analysis using the affymetrix genechip to explore genes contained in the intergenic sequences of the m. tuberculosis h37rv genome .
a working criterion for potential protein - coding genes was based on bioinformatics , consisting of the gene structure , protein coding potential , and presence of ortholog evidence .
the bioinformatics criteria in conjunction with transcriptional evidence revealed potential genes with a specific function , such as a dna - binding protein in the copg family and a nickle binding gtpase , as well as hypothetical proteins that had not been reported in the h37rv genome .
this study further demonstrated that microarray - based transcriptional evidence would facilitate genome - wide gene finding , and is also the first report concerning intergenic expression in m. tuberculosis genome .
 sequencing the complete genome of mycobacterium tuberculosis h37rv is a major milestone in the genome project and it sheds new light in our fight with tuberculosis . 
 the genome contains around 4000 genes ( protein - coding sequences ) in the original genome annotation . 
 a subsequent reannotation of the genome has added 80 more genes . 
 however , we have found that the intergenic regions can exhibit expression signals , as evidenced by microarray hybridization . 
 it is then reasonable to suspect that there are unidentified genes in these regions . 
 we conducted a genome - wide analysis using the affymetrix genechip to explore genes contained in the intergenic sequences of the m. tuberculosis h37rv genome . 
 a working criterion for potential protein - coding genes was based on bioinformatics , consisting of the gene structure , protein coding potential , and presence of ortholog evidence . 
 the bioinformatics criteria in conjunction with transcriptional evidence revealed potential genes with a specific function , such as a dna - binding protein in the copg family and a nickle binding gtpase , as well as hypothetical proteins that had not been reported in the h37rv genome . 
 this study further demonstrated that microarray - based transcriptional evidence would facilitate genome - wide gene finding , and is also the first report concerning intergenic expression in m. tuberculosis genome . 