Quantitative Real-time PCR Normalization Research Articles

PPIA, HRPT1, and PGK1 genes as the appropriate combination for RT-qPCR normalization in alveolar and femoral bone remodeling in olanzapine-treated rats.

Reliable gene expression analysis in bone remodeling studies requires an appropriate selection of internal controls, i.e. stable reference genes for the normalization of quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), the most common method used for quantifying gene expression measurements. Even the most widely used reference genes can have variable expression under different experimental conditions, or in different tissue types or treatment regimes, so selecting appropriate controls is a key step in ensuring reliable results. The aim of this research was to identify the most stable reference gene(s) for the study of olanzapine modulated bone remodeling in rats. RNA was isolated from the maxillary alveolar and femoral bones of olanzapine or placebo-treated Wistar rats and transcribed to cDNA. The expression of 12 candidate reference genes was assessed by RT-qPCR. Their expressions were analysed using GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and delta Ct algorithms, and by the comprehensive ranking method. PPIA, HRPT1 and PGK1 were the most stably expres sed reference genes and the combination of the three genes was optimal for normalization. This study is the first to identify the optimal reference genes for research in olanzapine-exposed rats, which serve as a pivotal benchmark for enhancing the accuracy and reliability of future RT-qPCR expression in bone studies.

Identifying the stability of housekeeping genes to be used for the quantitative real-time PCR normalization in retinal tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

To investigate the stability of the seven housekeeping genes: beta-actin (ActB), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), 18s ribosomal unit 5 (18s), cyclophilin A (CycA), hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT), ribosomal protein large P0 (36B4) and terminal uridylyl transferase 1 (U6) in the diabetic retinal tissue of rat model. The expression of these seven genes in rat retinal tissues was determined using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in two groups; normal control rats and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The stability analysis of gene expression was investigated using geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and comparative delta-Ct (ΔCt) algorithms. The 36B4 gene was stably expressed in the retinal tissues of normal control animals; however, it was less stable in diabetic retinas. The 18s gene was expressed consistently in both normal control and diabetic rats' retinal tissue. That this gene was the best reference for data normalisation in RT-qPCR studies that used the retinal tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Furthermore, there was no ideal gene stably expressed for use in all experimental settings. Identifying relevant genes is a need for achieving RT-qPCR validity and reliability and must be appropriately achieved based on a specific experimental setting.

Validation of reference gene stability for normalization of RT-qPCR in Phytophthora capsici Leonian during its interaction with Piper nigrum L.

The selection of stable reference genes for the normalization of reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) is generally overlooked despite being the crucial element in determining the accuracy of the relative expression of genes. In the present study, the stability of seven candidate reference genes: actin (act), α-tubulin (atub), β-tubulin (btub), translation elongation factor 1-α (ef1), elongation factor 2 (ef2), ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (ubc) and 40S ribosomal protein S3A (ws21) in Phytophthora capsici has been validated. The validation was performed at six infection time points during its interaction with its susceptible host Piper nigrum, two developmental stages, and for the combined dataset. Four algorithms: geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and the ΔCt method were compared, and a comprehensive ranking order was produced using RefFinder. The overall analysis revealed that ef1, ws21, and ubc were identified as the three most stable genes in the combined dataset, ef1, ws21, and act were the most stable at the infection stages, and, ef1, btub, and ubc were most stable during the developmental stages. These findings were further corroborated by validating the P. capsici pathogenesis gene NPP1 expression. The findings are significant as this is the first study addressing the stability of reference genes for P. capsici–P. nigrum interaction studies.

Selection and validation of reference genes for the normalization of quantitative real-time PCR in different muscle tissues of rabbits

BackgroundIn molecular biology studies, the selection of optimal reference genes is of vital importance for accurately quantifying gene expression. The purpose of the present study was to screen the most stable reference genes in different muscle tissues of New Zealand white rabbits and Yufeng yellow rabbits.Methods and resultsResults indicated that the most stable reference genes in the muscle tissues of New Zealand white rabbits were HPRT1, ACTB and PPIC, while HPRT1, PPIC, and RPL13A were the most stable reference genes in muscle tissues of Yufeng yellow rabbits. However, in the longissimus dorsi muscle and the abdominal wall muscle of both varieties, the most stable reference genes were HPRT1, RPL13A, and SDHA. In the quadriceps femoris muscle, the most stable reference genes were ACTB, HPRT1, and SDHA. Furthermore, the relative abundance of MYOG, MYH3 and MSTN was used to confirm the suitability and reliability of the selected most stable reference genes and the most unstable reference gene. Results revealed the same expression patterns of these myogenic genes when normalized according to the most stable genes, while normalization against the unstable reference gene altered the observed expression patterns.ConclusionsTaken together, our results demonstrated that the most stable reference genes varied among different muscle tissues and different breeds of rabbits. However, HPRT1, PPIC and SDHA presented high stability among all examined reference genes; thus, the combined analysis of HPRT1/ PPIC/ SDHA gene provides the best reference for RT-qPCR in muscle tissues of New Zealand white rabbits and Yufeng yellow rabbits, while HPRT1 is a better choice than other reference genes when using a single reference gene to assess target gene expression. Our results provide basic data for better measuring target gene expression profiles in muscle tissues of rabbits.

Selection and Validation of the Most Suitable Reference Genes for Quantitative Real-Time PCR Normalization in Salvia rosmarinus under In Vitro Conditions.

Salvia rosmarinus L. (rosemary) is known to have a wide range of pharmacological effects including antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, and antitumorigenic properties owing to its secondary metabolites. Studies aiming to elevate these metabolites have utilized various elicitors and stresses under in vitro conditions, although underlying molecular mechanisms remain unexplored. Gene expression studies using RT-qPCR might provide valuable information regarding how plant and plant cells interact and perceive various treatments and elicitors. However, despite being able to calculate accurate fold changes, the accuracy of the RT-qPCR data highly depends on the expression of reference genes. To the best of our knowledge, there is no information available on the stable reference genes in rosemary under in vitro conditions. Thus, in this paper, we assessed the stability of seven commonly used reference genes under different elicitor and stress conditions using RT-qPCR. Thereafter, the five most commonly used software and algorithms (comparative ΔCt, BestKeeper, NormFinder, geNorm, and RefFinder) were used to rank the candidates based on their expression stabilities. In conclusion, we recommend using a combination of F1-ATPase, ATP synthase and ACCase to normalize the gene expression experiments in rosemary under in vitro conditions. The selected reference genes were verified using 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, a pharmacologically important gene, whose expression might alter under nanoparticle treatment. Additionally, reference genes for several plant tissues, elicitors, and stresses are also proposed. The conclusions obtained from this current study will accelerate the future molecular work in S. rosmarinus and other related species.

Identification of suitable reference genes for normalization of reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) in the fibrotic phase of the bleomycin mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe lung disease with a poor prognosis and few treatment options. In the most widely used experimental model for this disease, bleomycin is administered into the lungs of mice, causing a reaction of inflammation and consequent fibrosis that resembles the progression of human IPF. The inflammation and fibrosis together induce changes in gene expression that can be analyzed with reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), in which accurate normalization with a set of stably expressed reference genes is critical for obtaining reliable results. This work compares ten commonly used candidate reference genes in the late, fibrotic phase of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and ranks them from the most to the least stable using NormFinder and geNorm. Sdha, Polr2a and Hprt were identified as the best performing and least variable reference genes when alternating between normal and fibrotic conditions. In order to validate the findings, we investigated the expression of Tnf and Col1a1, representing the hallmarks of inflammation and fibrotic changes, respectively. With the best three genes as references, both were found to be upregulated relative to untreated controls, unlike the situation when analyzed solely with Gapdh, a commonly used reference gene. We therefore recommend Sdha, Polr2a and Hprt as reference genes for RT-qPCR in the 4-week bleomycin challenge that represents the late fibrotic phase.

Evaluation of candidate reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR normalization in blood from red deer developing antlers

Sexual selection favors male traits that increase their ability to monopolize the breeding access to several females. Deer antlers are cranial appendages that regenerate annually in males. Throughout life, the phenology of antler growth advances and antler mass increases until the stag reaches, between 8 and 10 years old, maximum body mass and highest reproductive success. The molecular mechanisms of antler development are of great interest in both evolutionary and regenerative medicine studies. To minimize errors in the assessment of gene expression levels by qRT-PCR, we analyzed the stability of a panel of eight candidate reference genes and concluded that qRT-PCR normalization to three stable genes is strongly convenient in experiments performed in red deer antler blood. To validate our proposal, we compared the expression level of three genes linked to red deer antler growth (ANXA2, APOD and TPM1) in fifteen male red deer classified as young (up to 4 years old) and adults (4–6 years old). Our data confirms that B2M, ACTB and RPLP0 are valuable reference genes for future gene expression studies in red deer antler blood, which would provide increased insight into the effects of intrinsic factors that determine antler development in red deer.

Selection and Validation of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Analysis in Tibetan Medicinal Plant Saussurea Laniceps Callus under Abiotic Stresses and Hormone Treatments.

Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is an important technique for studying gene expression analysis, but accurate and reliable results depend on the use of a stable reference gene. This study proposes to test the expression stability of candidate reference genes in the callus of Saussurea laniceps, a unique Tibetan medicinal plant. Based on the S. laniceps callus transcriptome, eleven candidate reference genes, including TUA2, TUB3, TUB8, TIF3B1, TIF3H1, ELF5A, PP2AA2, UEV1D, UBL5, UBC36, and SKIP1), were validated for RT-qPCR normalization in the callus under abiotic stress (salt, cold, and UV) and hormone treatments (abscisic acid, MeJA, and salicylic acid). The stability of the candidate genes was evaluated in all the samples of S. laniceps. Comprehensive analysis of all samples showed that the best reference genes were UBC36 and UBL5. ELF5A and TIF3B1 were ranked as the most stable genes in the sample sets under abiotic stress. For hormone stimulation, UBC36 and TIF3H1 genes had the best stability. This study provides useful guidelines and a starting point for reference gene selection for expression analysis using RT-qPCR techniques in S. laniceps.

Selection and validation of reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR normalization in Psoralea corylifolia (Babchi) under various abiotic stress

Psoralea corylifolia L. is a popular herb and has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine owing to its extensive pharmacological activities, especially in the treatment of various shin diseases. To date, the systematic evaluation and selection of the optimum reference genes for gene expression analysis of P. corylifolia were not reported. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a method for gene expression quantification. Selecting appropriate reference genes is the prerequisite for accurate normalization of RT-qPCR results. This study assessed the expression stability of 10 candidate reference genes under different abiotic stresses. First, amplification primers for RT-qPCR were designed and received testing and optimization. Then, expression data from each candidate gene were evaluated based on three statistical algorithms, and their results were further integrated into a comprehensive ranking based on the geometric mean. Additionally, one target gene, i.e., 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (ACO), was used to validate the effectiveness of the selected reference. Our analysis suggested that thioredoxin-like protein YLS8 (YLS8), TIP41-like family protein (TIP41), and cyclophilin 2 (CYP2) genes provided superior expression normalization under different abiotic stresses. Overall, this work constitutes the first effort to select optimal endogenous controls for RT-qPCR studies of gene expression in P. corylifolia. It also provides a reasonable normalization standard and basis for further analysis of the gene expression of bioactive components in P. corylifolia.

Selection and Evaluation of Candidate Reference Genes for Quantitative Real-Time PCR in Aboveground Tissues and Drought Conditions in Rhododendron Delavayi.

There has been no systematic identification and screening of candidate reference genes for normalization of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results in Rhododendron delavayi to date. Therefore, the present study used GAPDH, Act, EF1, Tub-, Tub-5, UEC1, TATA, TATA-2, UEP, TIP41, and Ubiquitin to predict their stabilities on different aboveground tissues (matured leaves (ML), stem tips (STM), and flower buds (FB)) at different developmental stages (young and adult plants) using five statistical algorithms: Delta Ct method, BestKeeper, geNorm, Normfinder, and RefFinder. The findings were confirmed using ML obtained from plants that had been stressed by drought. By using RefFinder with ML samples collected under drought conditions, it was determined that the top five most stable reference genes were GAPDH > UEC1 > Actin > Tubulin- > Tubulin—5, whereas the least stable reference gene was Ubiquitin. In addition, under control conditions, UEC1, UEC2, Actin, and GAPDH were selected as the highest stable potential reference genes at the juvenile stage of R. delavayi with ML and STM. When ML and STM were combined with drought-stressed samples, TIP41, GAPDH, or their combination proved to be the most effective qRT-PCR primers. The findings will aid in the improvement of the precision and reliability of qRT-PCR data and laying the groundwork for future gene functional studies in R. delavayi.

Stable reference gene selection for quantitative real-time PCR normalization in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims.).

Passiflora edulis is a tropical fruit with high nutrient and medicinal values that is widely planted in southern China. However, the molecular biology of P. edulis has not been well studied. There are few reports regarding the choice of reference genes for gene expression studies of passion fruit. By using three algorithms, implemented in geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper, we have selected ten candidate reference genes to explore their transcriptional expression stability in various tissues and under cold stress conditions. EF1 and HIS were stably expressed in five tissues. Ts and OTU were stably in vegetative organs. 50S and Liom were stably in reproductive organs. The transcriptional abundance of EF1 and UBQ was stable in cold-treated and recovery treated leaf samples of P. edulis. In all samples, EF1 and Ts exhibited the highest expression stability. Evaluation of selected genes using simple statistical methods (ANOVA and post hoc analysis). Overall, EF1 emerged as the optimum reference gene for qRT-PCR normalize in P. edulis. In addition, the qRT-PCR analysis revealed that expression of ICE1 increases with the duration of cold treatment. In this study, we successfully screened stable reference genes from 10 candidates in P. edulis and verified the results by analyzing the expression level of ICE1. The results provide reliable and effective reference genes for future research on gene expression analysis in P. edulis, and lay a foundation for follow-up research on functional genes in P. edulis.

Validation of Reference Genes for Quantitative Real-Time PCR Normalization in Ananas comosus var. bracteatus During Chimeric Leaf Development and Response to Hormone Stimuli.

Reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) is a common way to study gene regulation at the transcriptional level due to its sensibility and specificity, but it needs appropriate reference genes to normalize data. Ananas comosus var. bracteatus, with white-green chimeric leaves, is an important pantropical ornamental plant. Up to date, no reference genes have been evaluated in Ananas comosus var. bracteatus. In this work, we used five common statistics tools (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, ΔCt method, RefFinder) to evaluate 10 candidate reference genes. The results showed that Unigene.16454 and Unigene.16459 were the optimal reference genes for different tissues, Unigene.16454 and zinc finger ran-binding domain-containing protein 2 (ZRANB2) for chimeric leaf at different developmental stages, isocitrate dehydrogenase [NADP] (IDH) and triacylglycerol lipase SDP1-like (SDP) for seedlings under different hormone treatments. The comprehensive results showed IDH, pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein (PPRC), Unigene.16454, and caffeoyl-CoA O methyltransferase 5-like (CCOAOMT) are the top-ranked stable genes across all the samples. The stability of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was the least during all experiments. Furthermore, the reliability of recommended reference gene was validated by the detection of porphobilinogen deaminase (HEMC) expression levels in chimeric leaves. Overall, this study provides appropriate reference genes under three specific experimental conditions and will be useful for future research on spatial and temporal regulation of gene expression and multiple hormone regulation pathways in Ananas comosus var. bracteatus.

Reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR normalization of Cenostigma pyramidale roots under salt stress and mycorrhizal association.

Cenostigma pyramidale is a native legume of the Brazilian semiarid region which performs symbiotic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), being an excellent model for studying genes associated with tolerance against abiotic and biotic stresses. In RT-qPCR approach, the use of reference genes is mandatory to avoid incorrect interpretation of the relative expression. This study evaluated the stability of ten candidate reference genes (CRGs) from C. pyramidale root tissues under salt stress (three collection times) and associated with AMF (three different times of salinity). The de novo transcriptome was obtained via RNA-Seq sequencing. Three algorithms were used to calculate the stability of CRGs under different conditions: (i) global (Salt, Salt+AMF, AMF and Control, and collection times), (ii) only non-inoculated plants, and (iii) AMF (only inoculated plants). HAG2, SAC1, aRP3 were the most stable CRGs for global and AMF assays, whereas HAG2, SAC1, RHS1 were the best for salt stress assay. This CRGs were used to validate the relative expression of two up-regulated transcripts in Salt2h (RAP2-3 and PIN8). Our study provides the first set of reference genes for C. pyramidale under salinity and AMF, supporting future researches on gene expression with this species.

Selection of reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR normalization in European quail tissues.

Coturniculture has been standing out as an industrial poultry activity in several countries around the world because of the several adaptive advantages of quails. Research that considers the analysis of gene expression can enhance this activity. This study aimed to analyze the stability of reference genes (RGs) in different tissues of quails (both males and females) for the recommendation of use in gene expression studies by the quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression stability of ten RGs (ACTA1, ACTB, B2M, GAPDH, HMBS, SDHA, HPRT1, MRPS27, MRPS30, and RPL5) was analyzed in four tissues (breast muscle, abdominal fat, liver, and intestine), and assessed using the statistical tools geNorm, NormFinder, comparative ΔCq method, and BestKeeper. The HPRT1 gene was the most stable in all quail tissues tested, followed by MRPS27 and MRPS30 in breast muscle, B2M and RPL5 in abdominal fat, HMBS and B2M in the liver, and RPL5 and HMBS in the intestine. These results may help studies using RT-qPCR assays to assess quail tissues from both sexes because they provide data on the most stable genes, which should be tested as candidate RGs for other experimental conditions.

Evaluation of reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR normalization in the scarab beetle Holotrichia oblita.

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPT-PCR) is commonly used to analyze gene expression, however, the accuracy of the normalized results is affected by the expression stability of reference genes. Holotrichia oblita (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) causes serious damage to crops. Reliable reference genes in H. oblita are needed for qRT-PCR analysis. Therefore, we evaluated 13 reference genes under biotic and abiotic conditions. RefFinder provided a comprehensive stability ranking, and geNorm suggested the optimal number of reference genes for normalization. RPL13a and RPL18 were the most suitable reference genes for developmental stages, tissues, and temperature treatments; RPL13a and RPS3 were the most suitable for pesticide and photoperiod treatments; RPS18 and RPL18 were the most suitable for the two sexes. We validated the normalized results using odorant-binding protein genes as target genes in different tissues. Compared with the selected suitable reference genes, the expression of OBP1 in antennae, abdomen, and wings, and OBP2 in antennae and wings were overestimated due to the instability of ACTb. These results identified several reliable reference genes in H. oblita for normalization, and are valuable for future molecular studies.

Systematic selection and validation of suitable reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR normalization studies of gene expression in Nitraria tangutorum

Suitable reference genes can be used to calibrate the error in quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) experiments, making the results more credible. However, there are no reference genes suitable for multiple species and under different experimental conditions. Nitraria tangutorum Bobr. is a typical plant native to desert areas. It is drought-resistant, saline-alkali resistant, extreme temperatures-resistant, and has strong adaptability. To date, the importance of this germplasm has not been sufficiently understood; therefore, it is still unclear which genes can be used as reference genes to calibrate qPCR data of N. tangutorum. In this study we analyzed the expression levels of 10 candidate reference genes (ACT, GAPDH, TUA, TUB, CYP, UBC, His, PP2A, HSP, and EF1-α) in N. tangutorum seedlings under a series of experimental conditions, including in different organs (root, stem, and leaf) and under abiotic stresses (salt, drought, heat, and cold) and hormone stimuli (abscisic acid) by qPCR. Three software programs (geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper) were used to evaluate the expression stability of the ten genes. Comprehensive analysis showed that EF1-α and His had the best expression stability, whereas HSP was the least suitable as a reference gene. The expression profile of NtCER7, a gene related to the regulation of cuticular wax biosynthesis in N. tangutorum, verified the accuracy of the experimental results. Based on this study, we recommend EF1-α and His as suitable reference genes for N. tangutorum. This paper provides the first data on stable reference genes in N. tangutorum, which will be beneficial to studying the gene expression of N. tangutorum and other Nitraria species in the future.

Selection and identification of the panel of reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR normalization in rat testis at different development periods

BackgroundIn quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), the expression levels of various adult reference genes may be unstable at different developmental periods and tissues, and will lead to inaccurate detected results. This study aimed to select and identify the optimal panel of reference genes in rat testis at different development periods. MethodsWe detected mRNA expression levels of five common rat testicular reference genes (GAPDH, β-actin, 18s, RPS16 and RPL19) by qRT-PCR at different developmental periods (fetus, infancy, and adolescence), selected optimal panel of reference genes by combining with stability algorithms, and verified their tissue specificity. Lastly, we observed their mRNA expression alterations under pathological conditions to evaluate the stability and accuracy, and verify testicular dysplasia model. ResultsBased on comprehensive analysis, the best panel of reference genes of testis were GAPDH+β-actin (at fetus) and GAPDH+RPL19 (at infancy and adolescent). Meanwhile, the best panel of reference genes of fetal testis was consistent with placenta and fetal hippocampus but different from fetal liver and kidney. Furthermore, in prenatal dexamethasone exposure (PDE) model, the results were consistent with those under physiological conditions, and the testicular steroidogenesis acute regulatory protein (StAR) was most obviously decreased when using the best panel of reference genes. ConclusionIn this study, rat testicular GAPDH+β-actin for fetuses and GAPDH+RPL19 for infants and adolescents are recommended to be the optimal panel of reference genes. Respectively. The selected panel of reference genes was still stable under PDE condition. This study provided technical and theoretical supports for researches on testicular development toxicology.

Reference gene selection for quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) expression analysis in Galium aparine L.

To accurately evaluate expression levels of target genes, stable internal reference genes is required for normalization of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) data. However, there have been no systematical investigation on the stability of reference genes used in the bedstraw weed, Galium aparine L. (BGA). In this study, the expression profiles of seven traditionally used reference genes, namely 18S, 28S, ACT, GAPDH, EF1α, RPL7 and TBP in BGA were assessed under both biotic (developmental time and tissue), and abiotic (temperature, regions and herbicide) conditions. Four analytical algorithms (geNorm, Normfinder, BestKeeper and the ΔCt method) were used to analyze the suitability of these genes as internal reference genes. RefFinder, a comprehensive analytical software, was used to rank the overall stability of the candidate genes. The optimal normalization internal control genes were ranked as: 28S and RPL7 were best for all the different experimental conditions (developmental stages, tissues, temperature, regions and herbicide treatment); 28S and RPL7 for developmental stages; TBP and GAPDH for different tissues; 28S and GAPDH were relatively stable for different temperature; 28S and TBP were suitable for herbicide treatment. A specific set of reference genes were recommended for each experimental condition in BGA.

Identification of reliable reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR normalization in pitaya

BackgroundA suitable reference gene is an important prerequisite for guarantying accurate and reliable results in quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses. However, there is no absolute universality in reference genes among different species. It’s hard to find an ideal reference gene to fit for different tissues and growth periods. Pitaya (Hylocereus) is commercially produced as a new fruit crop at a large scale in tropical and subtropical regions. To date, there is no report on the identification of the most reliable reference genes for qRT-PCR normalization in pitaya.ResultsIn this study, six candidate reference genes i.e. Actin(1), GAPDH, UBC(1), UBC(2) EF1-α(1) and histone(1) were selected from thirty-nine typical candidate reference genes to determine the most stable reference genes for qRT-PCR normalization in different tissues, temperature stresses and fruit developmental stages of pitaya. Among the six candidate reference genes, Actin(1) and EF1-α(1) were the most stable gene according to calculations of three statistical methods (GeNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper) while UBC(1) and UBC(2) showed the lowest expression stability. The six candidate reference genes were further validated by comparing expression profiles of key genes related to betalain biosynthesis at flesh coloration stages of Guanhuahong (Hylocereus monacanthus) and Guanhuabai (H. undatus) pitayas. Actin(1) was recommended the best reference gene for accurate normalization of qRT-PCR data.ConclusionsIn this study, the stability of the selected reference genes for normalizing the qRT-PCR data were identified from pitaya. Actin(1) was the most stably expressed genes in different tissues and fruit developmental stages in pitaya. The present work provides the first data of reference gene identification for pitaya and will facilitate further studies in molecular biology and gene function on Hylocereus and other closely related species.

Reference gene selection for real-time quantitative PCR normalization in Hemarthria compressa and Hemarthria altissima leaf tissue.

Hemarthria compressa and Hemarthria altissima are widely used as livestock forage and play important roles in tropical and subtropical grassland agricultural systems promoting healthy ecological environment and the development of animal husbandry. Leaf tissue of "Yaan" limpograss (H. compressa) and "H255" whip grass (H. altissima) were used to test the mRNA expression levels of 12 reference genes using RT-qPCR. The Delta-Ct method, BestKeeper (ver. 1.0), Genorm (ver. 3.5), Normfinder (ver. 0.953) and RefFinder were used to analyze the expression stability of the 12 reference genes under drought, salt, acid-aluminum and cold stresses to provide significant technical support for the study of gene expression under various abiotic stresses in Hemarthria. The results showed that the candidate reference genes showed divergent expression levels under various abiotic stresses. Among the genes that were selected, CL18892 showed the highest expression stability under salt stress in the leaf tissue. eEF-1α was the most stable gene under cold and acid-aluminum stresses and CL16384 was comparatively the most suitable genes under drought stress. As a whole, according to RefFinder analysis, CYP5, BMK.74327 and CL21527 were the most suitable reference genes for studying the effects of abiotic stress in Hemarthria. In general, CL16812 and CL18038 were not suitable reference genes under abiotic stress conditions that were examined in this study.