Global gene expression (GGE)

Global gene expression refers to the simultaneous measurement and state of all mRNA transcripts produced by a cell or tissue, representing the functional output of the genome at a given time (National Center for Biotechnology Information [NCBI], 2023). It is a systems-level concept rather than a discrete molecular target such as a receptor, enzyme, or ion channel (Nature Education, 2014). While therapeutic agents—particularly those targeting epigenetic regulators like histone deacetylases (HDACs) or core transcriptional machinery—can profoundly shift global expression profiles, the term itself describes an aggregate phenotype. In clinical and preclinical research, global gene expression is utilized as a high-dimensional biomarker to understand drug mechanisms of action, identify disease signatures, and predict patient responses (PubMed, PMCID: PMC4112543). Consequently, it cannot be targeted by a single drug in a conventional sense; instead, it serves as a readout of the cell's integrated biological response to internal and external stimuli.

Other names

Transcriptome-wide expressionGenome-wide expression profileTotal gene expressionDifferential gene expression (DGE)

Not applicable as global gene expression is a phenotypic state or descriptive measurement rather than a specific molecular target for drug binding.