Selection Of Stable Reference Genes Research Articles

Validation of reference genes aiming accurate normalization of qPCR data in soybean upon nematode parasitism and insect attack

BackgroundSoybean pathogens and pests reduce grain production worldwide. Biotic interaction cause extensive changes in plant gene expression profile and the data produced by functional genomics studies need validation, usually done by quantitative PCR. Nevertheless, this technique relies on accurate normalization which, in turn, depends upon the proper selection of stable reference genes for each experimental condition. To date, only a few studies were performed to validate reference genes in soybean subjected to biotic stress. Here, we report reference genes validation in soybean during root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) parasitism and velvetbean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis) attack.FindingsThe expression stability of nine classical reference genes (GmCYP2, GmELF1A, GmELF1B, GmACT11, GmTUB, GmTUA5, GmG6PD, GmUBC2 and GmUBC4) was evaluated using twenty-four experimental samples including different organs, developmental stages, roots infected with M. incognita and leaves attacked by A. gemmatalis. Two different algorithms (geNorm and NormFinder) were used to determine expression stability. GmCYP2 and GmUBC4 are the most stable in different organs. Considering the developmental stages, GmELF1A and GmELF1B genes are the most stable. For spatial and temporal gene expression studies, normalization may be performed using GmUBC4, GmUBC2, GmCYP2 and GmACT11 as reference genes. Our data indicate that both GmELF1A and GmTUA5 are the most stable reference genes for data normalization obtained from soybean roots infected with M. incognita, and GmCYP2 and GmELF1A are the most stable in soybean leaves infested with A. gemmatalis.ConclusionsFuture expression studies using nematode infection and caterpilar infestation in soybean plant may utilize the reference gene sets reported here.

Selection of stable reference genes in heat stressed peripheral blood mononuclear cells of tropically adapted Indian cattle and buffaloes

Eleven reference genes from different functional categories were assessed for their stable expression pattern in heat stressed PBMCs across Indian buffalo and cattle using GeNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper algorithms. As the first report, we suggest B2M, RPS9 and RPS15a as suitable reference genes for accurate normalization of PBMC transcript data while the ACTB gene is not recommended.

Technical note: Identification of reference genes for gene expression studies in different bovine tissues focusing on different fat depots

Selection of stable reference genes (REF) is important in real-time PCR data normalization. Bovine tissues such as the mammary gland, liver, muscle, and s.c. fat from the tail head have been thoroughly explored for stable REF, whereas fewer reports exist for other fat depots. Therefore, a suitable combination of REF was tested for different tissues of dairy cattle. Holstein dairy heifers (n=25) were supplemented (100g/d) with a control fat (n=15) without conjugated linoleic acids or with rumen-protected conjugated linoleic acids (n=10) from the day of calving until slaughter at 1, 42, or 105 d postpartum (n=5, 10, and 10, respectively). Samples from 6 fat depots (omental, mesenterial, retroperitoneal, s.c. tail head, s.c. withers, and s.c. sternum), liver, semitendinosus muscle, and mammary gland were collected. The REF mRNA were quantified and their stability was analyzed using geNormplus. The 3 most stable REF in individual fat tissues and muscle were EMD (emerin), POLR2A (RNA polymerase II), and LRP10 (lipoprotein receptor-related protein 10); in mammary gland were MARVELD1 (marvel domain containing 1), EMD, and LRP10; and in liver were HPCAL1 (hippocalcin-like 1), LRP10, and EIF3K (Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3). The 3 most stable REF in s.c. fat were EMD, LRP10, and EIF3K; in visceral fat were POLR2A, LRP10, and MARVELD1; and for all 6 adipose tissues were LRP10, EIF3K, and MARVELD1. When the mammary gland was added to the 6 adipose depots, at least 5 REF (LRP10, POLR2A, EIF3K, MARVELD1, and HPCAL1) were needed to reach the threshold of 0.15. Addition of liver to the above-mentioned tissues increased the V value. The data improve the comparison of gene expression between different fat depots. In each case, GAPDH had the lowest stability value.

Tissue-specific selection of stable reference genes for real-time PCR normalization in an obese rat model

Obesity is a complex pathology with interacting and confounding causes due to the environment, hormonal signaling patterns, and genetic predisposition. At present, the Zucker rat is an eligible genetic model for research on obesity and metabolic syndrome, allowing scrutiny of gene expression profiles. Real-time PCR is the benchmark method for measuring mRNA expressions, but the accuracy and reproducibility of its data greatly depend on appropriate normalization strategies. In the Zucker rat model, no specific reference genes have been identified in myocardium, kidney, and lung, the main organs involved in this syndrome. The aim of this study was to select among ten candidates (Actb, Gapdh, Polr2a, Ywhag, Rpl13a, Sdha, Ppia, Tbp, Hprt1 and Tfrc) a set of reference genes that can be used for the normalization of mRNA expression data obtained by real-time PCR in obese and lean Zucker rats both at fasting and during acute hyperglycemia. The most stable genes in the heart were Sdha, Tbp, and Hprt1; in kidney, Tbp, Actb, and Gapdh were chosen, while Actb, Ywhag, and Sdha were selected as the most stably expressed set for pulmonary tissue. The normalization strategy was used to analyze mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor α, the main inflammatory mediator in obesity, whose variations were more significant when normalized with the appropriately selected reference genes. The findings obtained in this study underline the importance of having three stably expressed reference gene sets for use in the cardiac, renal, and pulmonary tissues of an experimental model of obese and hyperglycemic Zucker rats.

Selection of Stable Reference Genes for Quantitative RT-PCR Comparisons of Mouse Embryonic and Extra-Embryonic Stem Cells

Isolation and culture of both embryonic and tissue specific stem cells provide an enormous opportunity to study the molecular processes driving development. To gain insight into the initial events underpinning mammalian embryogenesis, pluripotent stem cells from each of the three distinct lineages present within the preimplantation blastocyst have been derived. Embryonic (ES), trophectoderm (TS) and extraembryonic endoderm (XEN) stem cells possess the developmental potential of their founding lineages and seemingly utilize distinct epigenetic modalities to program gene expression. However, the basis for these differing cellular identities and epigenetic properties remain poorly defined.Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is a powerful and efficient means of rapidly comparing patterns of gene expression between different developmental stages and experimental conditions. However, careful, empirical selection of appropriate reference genes is essential to accurately measuring transcriptional differences. Here we report the quantitation and evaluation of fourteen commonly used references genes between ES, TS and XEN stem cells. These included: Actb, B2m, Hsp70, Gapdh, Gusb, H2afz, Hk2, Hprt, Pgk1, Ppia, Rn7sk, Sdha, Tbp and Ywhaz. Utilizing three independent statistical analysis, we identify Pgk1, Sdha and Tbp as the most stable reference genes between each of these stem cell types. Furthermore, we identify Sdha, Tbp and Ywhaz as well as Ywhaz, Pgk1 and Hk2 as the three most stable reference genes through the in vitro differentiation of embryonic and trophectoderm stem cells respectively.Understanding the transcriptional and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms controlling cellular identity within these distinct stem cell types provides essential insight into cellular processes controlling both embryogenesis and stem cell biology. Normalizing quantitative RT-PCR measurements using the geometric mean CT values obtained for the identified mRNAs, offers a reliable method to assess differing patterns of gene expression between the three founding stem cell lineages present within the mammalian preimplantation embryo.

Selection of stable reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR in porcine gastrointestinal tissues

The selection of stable reference genes is an essential aspect of controlling for the many technical variables that influence the final outcome in quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). In this study, we evaluated the suitability of 8 commonly used reference genes based on their efficiency and dynamic range in porcine gastrointestinal tissues. The genes included ACTB, B2M, GAPDH, HMBS, HPRT, PPIA, 18S rRNA, and YWHAZ. We then sub-selected four reference genes ( ACTB, B2M, GAPDH, PPIA) of ‘medium’ abundance, and evaluated their stability using the geNorm algorithm across three unchallenged and immunologically challenged (bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and concanavalin A (ConA)) tissue types (liver, ileum, colon) of porcine origin. Normalisation factors were generated for each group using the most stable reference pairs for each group. The most stable reference pairs based on their M values are summarised as follows: 1) liver ( B2M, GAPDH), 2) ileum ( B2M, PPIA), 3) colon ( B2M, PPIA), 4) all treatment groups ( B2M, GAPDH), and 5) entire data set ( B2M, GAPDH). ACTB was the least stable gene in all groups. The stability of selected reference genes for the ileum and colon differed from the liver but was not significantly altered by immunological challenges with LPS and ConA.

Transcript Levels of Several Epigenome Regulatory Genes in Bovine Somatic Donor Cells Are Not Correlated with Their Cloning Efficiency

Among many factors that potentially affect somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryo development is the donor cell itself. Cloning potentials of somatic donor cells vary greatly, possibly because the cells have different capacities to be reprogrammed by ooplasma. It is therefore intriguing to identify factors that regulate the reprogrammability of somatic donor cells. Gene expression analysis is a widely used tool to investigate underlying mechanisms of various phenotypes. In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis investigating whether donor cell lines with distinct cloning efficiencies express different levels of genes involved in epigenetic reprogramming including histone deacetylase-1 (HDAC1), -2 (HDAC2); DNA methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1), -3a (DNMT3a),-3b (DNMT3b), and the bovine homolog of yeast sucrose nonfermenting-2 (SNF2L), a SWI/SNF family of ATPases. Cell samples from 12 bovine donor cell lines were collected at the time of nuclear transfer experiments and expression levels of the genes were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Our results show that there are no significant differences in expression levels of these genes between donor cell lines of high and low cloning efficiency defined as live calving rates, although inverse correlations are observed between in vitro embryo developmental rates and expression levels of HDAC2 and SNF2L. We also show that selection of stable reference genes is important for relative quantification, and different batches of cells can have different gene expression patterns. In summary, we demonstrate that expression levels of these epigenome regulatory genes in bovine donor cells are not correlated with cloning potential. The experimental design and data analysis method reported here can be applied to study any genes expressed in donor cells.