Using RNA-Seq Data to Evaluate Reference Genes Suitable for Gene Expression Studies in Soybean

Abstract Background Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, but research efforts in neonatology are complicated due to the unavailability of large volume blood samples. Whole blood assays can be used to overcome this problem by performing both functional and gene expression studies using small amounts of blood. Gene expression studies using RT-qPCR estimate mRNA-levels of target genes normalized to reference genes. The goal of this study was to identify and validate stable reference genes applicable to cord blood samples obtained from developing neonates of different gestational age groups as well as to adult peripheral blood samples. Eight reference gene candidates (ACTB, B2M, GAPDH, GUSB, HPRT, PPIB, RPLP0, RPL13) were analyzed using the three published software algorithms Bestkeeper, GeNorm and NormFinder. Results A normalization factor consisting of ACTB and PPIB allows for comparative expression analyses of neonatal samples from different gestational age groups. Normalization factors consisting of GAPDH and PPIB or ACTB and GAPDH are suitable when samples from preterm and full-term neonates and adults are compared. However, all candidate reference genes except RPLP0 exhibited significant intergroup gene expression variance and a higher gene expression towards an older age which resulted in a small but statistically significant systematic bias. Systematic analysis of RNA-seq data revealed new reference gene candidates with potentially superior stability. Conclusions The current study identified suitable normalization factors and proposed the use of the additional single gene RPLP0 to avoid systematic bias. This combination will enable comparative analyses not only between neonates of different gestational ages, but also between neonates and adults, as it facilitates more detailed investigations of developmental gene expression changes. The use of software algorithms did not prevent unintended systematic bias. This generally highlights the need for careful validation of such results to prevent false interpretation of potential age-dependent changes in gene expression. To identify the most stable reference genes in the future, RNA-seq based global approaches are recommended.

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Validation of Reference Genes for Gene Expression Studies in Virus-Infected Nicotiana benthamiana Using Quantitative Real-Time PCR

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0046451 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (9) ◽

pp. e46451 ◽

Cited By ~ 176

Author(s):

Deshui Liu ◽

Lindan Shi ◽

Chenggui Han ◽

Jialin Yu ◽

Dawei Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Real Time ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Nicotiana Benthamiana ◽

Reference Genes ◽

Quantitative Real Time Pcr ◽

Expression Studies ◽

Gene Expression Studies

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Validation of Reference Genes for Studying Different Abiotic Stresses in oat (Avena sativa L.) by RT-qPCR

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10071272 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1272

Author(s):

Judit Tajti ◽

Magda Pál ◽

Tibor Janda

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Avena Sativa ◽

Abiotic Stresses ◽

Reference Genes ◽

Nutritional Value ◽

Tissue Type ◽

Future Research ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Expression Studies ◽

Gene Expression Studies

Oat (Avena sativa L.) is a widely cultivated cereal with high nutritional value and it is grown mainly in temperate regions. The number of studies dealing with gene expression changes in oat continues to increase, and to obtain reliable RT-qPCR results it is essential to establish and use reference genes with the least possible influence caused by experimental conditions. However, no detailed study has been conducted on reference genes in different tissues of oat under diverse abiotic stress conditions. In our work, nine candidate reference genes (ACT, TUB, CYP, GAPD, UBC, EF1, TBP, ADPR, PGD) were chosen and analysed by four statistical methods (GeNorm, Normfinder, BestKeeper, RefFinder). Samples were taken from two tissues (leaves and roots) of 13-day-old oat plants exposed to five abiotic stresses (drought, salt, heavy metal, low and high temperatures). ADPR was the top-rated reference gene for all samples, while different genes proved to be the most stable depending on tissue type and treatment combinations. TUB and EF1 were most affected by the treatments in general. Validation of reference genes was carried out by PAL expression analysis, which further confirmed their reliability. These results can contribute to reliable gene expression studies for future research in cultivated oat.

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Selection of reference genes for gene expression studies in chronically hypoxic heart

Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology ◽

10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.05.075 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 120 ◽

pp. 22-23

Author(s):

D. Benak ◽

D. Sotakova ◽

J. Neckar ◽

F. Kolar ◽

M. Hlavackova

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Reference Genes ◽

Hypoxic Heart ◽

Expression Studies ◽

Gene Expression Studies ◽

Selection Of

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Selection of reference genes for measuring the expression of aiiO in Ochrobactrum quorumnocens A44 using RT-qPCR

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-49474-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Dorota M. Krzyżanowska ◽

Anna Supernat ◽

Tomasz Maciąg ◽

Marta Matuszewska ◽

Sylwia Jafra

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Quorum Sensing ◽

Reference Genes ◽

Significance Threshold ◽

Expression Studies ◽

Reverse Transcription Quantitative Pcr ◽

Gene Expression Studies ◽

The Stability ◽

Selection Of

Abstract Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), a method of choice for quantification of gene expression changes, requires stably expressed reference genes for normalization of data. So far, no reference genes were established for the Alphaproteobacteria of the genus Ochrobactrum. Here, we determined reference genes for gene expression studies in O. quorumnocens A44. Strain A44 was cultured under 10 different conditions and the stability of expression of 11 candidate genes was evaluated using geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper. Most stably expressed genes were found to be rho, gyrB and rpoD. Our results can facilitate the choice of reference genes in the related Ochrobactrum strains. O. quorumnocens A44 is able to inactivate a broad spectrum of N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) – the quorum sensing molecules of many Gram-negative bacteria. This activity is attributed to AiiO hydrolase, yet it remains unclear whether AHLs are the primary substrate of this enzyme. Using the established RT-qPCR setup, we found that the expression of the aiiO gene upon exposure to two AHLs, C6-HLS and 3OC12-HSL, does not change above the 1-fold significance threshold. The implications of this finding are discussed in the light of the role of quorum sensing-interfering enzymes in the host strains.

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Selection and Validation of Appropriate Reference Genes for Gene Expression Studies in Schima Superba

10.21203/rs.3.rs-145449/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Zhongyi Yang ◽

Rui Zhang ◽

Zhichun Zhou

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Reference Gene ◽

Reference Genes ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Gene Transcript ◽

Expression Stability ◽

Schima Superba ◽

Expression Studies ◽

Gene Expression Studies ◽

Different Tissues

Abstract Background Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is a reliable and high-throughput technique for gene expression studies, but its accuracy depends on the expression stability of reference genes. Schima superba is a strong resistance and fast-growing timber specie. However, so far, reliable reference gene identifications have not been reported in S. superba. In this study, we screened and verified the stably expressed reference genes in different tissues of S. superba.Results Nineteen candidate reference genes were selected and evaluated for their expression stability in different tissues. Three software programs (geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper) were used to evaluate the reference gene transcript stabilities, and comprehensive stability ranking was generated by the geometric mean method. Our results identified that SsuACT was the most stable reference gene, SsuACT + SsuRIB was the best reference genes combination for different tissues. Finally, the stable and less stable reference genes were verified using the SsuSND1 expression in different tissues.Conclusions This is the first report to verify the appropriate reference genes for normalizing gene expression in S. superba for different tissues, which will facilitate future elucidation of gene regulations in this species, and useful references for relative species.

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