scholarly journals There is no magic bullet: the importance of testing reference gene stability in RT-qPCR experiments across multiple closely related species

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9618
Author(s):  
Bert Foquet ◽  
Hojun Song
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Reference Genes ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Magic Bullet ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Gene Stability

Reverse Transcriptase quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) is the current gold standard tool for the study of gene expression. This technique is highly dependent on the validation of reference genes, which exhibit stable expression levels among experimental conditions. Often, reference genes are assumed to be stable a priori without a rigorous test of gene stability. However, such an oversight can easily lead to misinterpreting expression levels of target genes if the references genes are in fact not stable across experimental conditions. Even though most gene expression studies focus on just one species, comparative studies of gene expression among closely related species can be very informative from an evolutionary perspective. In our study, we have attempted to find stable reference genes for four closely related species of grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) that together exhibit a spectrum of density-dependent phenotypic plasticity. Gene stability was assessed for eight reference genes in two tissues, two experimental conditions and all four species. We observed clear differences in the stability ranking of these reference genes, both between tissues and between species. Additionally, the choice of reference genes clearly influenced the results of a gene expression experiment. We offer suggestions for the use of reference genes in further studies using these four species, which should be taken as a cautionary tale for future studies involving RT-qPCR in a comparative framework.

Identification of reference genes for gene expression studies during seed germination and seedling establishment in Ricinus communis L.

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo R. Ribeiro ◽  
Bas J. W. Dekkers ◽  
Luzimar G. Fernandez ◽  
Renato D. de Castro ◽  
Wilco Ligterink ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Seed Germination ◽  
Reference Genes ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Ricinus Communis ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Optimal Combination ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Gene Expression Studies ◽  
Gene Expression Levels

AbstractReverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is an important technology to analyse gene expression levels during plant development or in response to different treatments. An important requirement to measure gene expression levels accurately is a properly validated set of reference genes. In this context, we analysed the potential use of 17 candidate reference genes across a diverse set of samples, including several tissues, different stages and environmental conditions, encompassing seed germination and seedling growth in Ricinus communis L. These genes were tested by RT-qPCR and ranked according to the stability of their expression using two different approaches: GeNorm and NormFinder. GeNorm and Normfinder indicated that ACT, POB and PP2AA1 comprise the optimal combination for normalization of gene expression data in inter-tissue (heterogeneous sample panel) studies. We also describe the optimal combination of reference genes for a subset of root, endosperm and cotyledon samples. In general, the most stable genes suggested by GeNorm are very consistent with those indicated by NormFinder, which highlights the strength of the selection of reference genes in our study. We also validated the selected reference genes by normalizing the expression levels of three target genes involved in energy metabolism with the reference genes suggested by GeNorm and NormFinder. The approach used in this study to identify stably expressed genes, and thus potential reference genes, was applied successfully for R. communis and it provides important guidelines for RT-qPCR studies in seeds and seedlings for other species (especially in those cases where extensive microarray data are not available).

scholarly journals Identification and Validation of Reference Genes for Gene Expression Analysis in Different Development Stages of Amylostereum areolatum

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ningning Fu ◽  
Jiaxing Li ◽  
Ming Wang ◽  
Lili Ren ◽  
Shixiang Zong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Reference Genes ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Development Stages ◽  
Symbiotic Fungus ◽  
The Stability

A strict relationship exists between the Sirex noctilio and the Amylostereum areolatum, which is carried and spread by its partner. The growth and development of this symbiotic fungus is key to complete the life history of the Sirex woodwasp. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is used to measure gene expression in samples of A. areolatum at different growth stages and explore the key genes and pathways involved in the growth and development of this symbiotic fungus. To obtain accurate RT-qPCR data, target genes need to be normalized by reference genes that are stably expressed under specific experimental conditions. In our study, the stability of 10 candidate reference genes in symbiotic fungal samples at different growth and development stages was evaluated using geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, delta Ct methods, and RefFinder. Meanwhile, laccase1 was used to validate the stability of the selected reference gene. Under the experimental conditions of this study, p450, CYP, and γ-TUB were identified as suitable reference genes. This work is the first to systematically evaluate the reference genes for RT-qPCR results normalization during the growth of this symbiotic fungus, which lays a foundation for further gene expression experiments and understanding the symbiotic relationship and mechanism between S. noctilio and A. areolatum.

scholarly journals Current Practices for Reference Gene Selection in RT-qPCR of Aspergillus: Outlook and Recommendations for the Future

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 960
Author(s):  
Meagan Archer ◽  
Jianping Xu
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Reference Gene ◽  
Reference Genes ◽  
Gene Selection ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Specific Method ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Reference Gene Selection ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
The Stability

Aspergillus is a genus of filamentous fungi with vast geographic and ecological distributions. Species within this genus are clinically, agriculturally and biotechnologically relevant, leading to increasing interest in elucidating gene expression dynamics of key metabolic and physiological processes. Reverse-transcription quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) is a sensitive and specific method of quantifying gene expression. A crucial step for comparing RT-qPCR results between strains and experimental conditions is normalisation to experimentally validated reference gene(s). In this review, we provide a critical analysis of current reference gene selection and validation practices for RT-qPCR gene expression analyses of Aspergillus. Of 90 primary research articles obtained through our PubMed query, 17 experimentally validated the reference gene(s) used. Twenty reference genes were used across the 90 studies, with beta-tubulin being the most used reference gene, followed by actin, 18S rRNA and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Sixteen of the 90 studies used multiple reference genes for normalisation. Failing to experimentally validate the stability of reference genes can lead to conflicting results, as was the case for four studies. Overall, our review highlights the need to experimentally validate reference genes in RT-qPCR studies of Aspergillus.

scholarly journals Identification of reference genes for RT-qPCR data normalisation in aging studies

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lourdes González-Bermúdez ◽  
Teresa Anglada ◽  
Anna Genescà ◽  
Marta Martín ◽  
Mariona Terradas
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Reference Genes ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Qpcr Data ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Specific Subset ◽  
Aging Studies

Abstract Aging is associated with changes in gene expression levels that affect cellular functions and predispose to age-related diseases. The use of candidate genes whose expression remains stable during aging is required to correctly address the age-associated variations in expression levels. Reverse transcription quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) has become a powerful approach for sensitive gene expression analysis. Reliable RT-qPCR assays rely on the normalisation of the results to stable reference genes. Taken these data together, here we evaluated the expression stability of eight frequently used reference genes in three aging models: oncogene-induced senescence (OIS), in vitro and in vivo aging. Using NormFinder and geNorm algorithms, we identified that the most stable reference gene pairs were PUM1 and TBP in OIS, GUSB and PUM1 for in vitro aging and GUSB and OAZ1 for in vivo aging. To validate these candidates, we used them to normalise the expression data of CDKN1A, APOD and TFRC genes, whose expression is known to be affected during OIS, in vitro and in vivo aging. This study demonstrates that accurate normalisation of RT-qPCR data is crucial in aging research and provides a specific subset of stable reference genes for future aging studies.

scholarly journals Identification of stable reference genes for lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophage gene expression studies

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roshini Kalagara ◽  
Weimin Gao ◽  
Honor L. Glenn ◽  
Colleen Ziegler ◽  
Laura Belmont ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Ribosomal Protein ◽  
Reference Gene ◽  
Reference Genes ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Stable Gene ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Qrt Pcr ◽  
Expression Studies ◽  
Gene Expression Studies

Gene expression studies which utilize lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages to model immune signaling are widely used for elucidating the mechanisms of inflammation-related disease. When expression levels of target genes are quantified using Real-Time quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), they are analyzed in comparison to reference genes, which should have stable expression. Judicious selection of reference genes is, therefore, critical to interpretation of qRT-PCR results. Ideal reference genes must be identified for each experimental system and demonstrated to remain constant under the experimental conditions. In this study, we evaluated the stability of eight common reference genes: Beta-2-microglobulin (B2M), Cyclophilin A/Peptidylprolyl isomerase A, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphatedehydrogenase (GAPDH), Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase 1, Large Ribosomal Protein P0, TATA box binding protein, Ubiquitin C (UBC), and Ribosomal protein L13A. Expression stability of each gene was tested under different conditions of LPS stimulation and compared to untreated controls. Reference gene stabilities were analyzed using Ct value comparison, NormFinder, and geNorm. We found that UBC, closely followed by B2M, is the most stable gene, while the commonly used reference gene GAPDH is the least stable. Thus, for improved accuracy in evaluating gene expression levels, we propose the use of UBC to normalize PCR data from LPS-stimulated macrophages.

scholarly journals Identification and Evaluation of Suitable Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Analysis in Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Under Different Biotic and Abiotic Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaoxin Xie ◽  
Tinghui Liu ◽  
Adel Khashaveh ◽  
Chaoqun Yi ◽  
Xiaoxu Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reference Genes ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Qpcr Analysis ◽  
Hippodamia Variegata ◽  
Convenient Technique ◽  
Suitable Reference

Reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is an accurate and convenient technique for quantifying expression levels of the target genes. Selection of the appropriate reference gene is of the vital importance for RT-qPCR analysis. Hippodamia variegata is one of the most important predatory natural enemies of aphids. Recently, transcriptome and genome sequencings of H. variegata facilitate the gene functional studies. However, there has been rare investigation on the detection of stably expressed reference genes in H. variegata. In the current study, by using five analytical tools (Delta Ct, geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder), eight candidate reference genes, namely, Actin, EF1α, RPL7, RPL18, RPS23, Tubulin-α, Tubulin-β, and TufA, were evaluated under four experimental conditions including developmental stages, tissues, temperatures, and diets. As a result, a specific set of reference genes were recommended for each experimental condition. These findings will help to improve the accuracy and reliability of RT-qPCR data, and lay a foundation for further exploration on the gene function of H. variegata.

scholarly journals Selection and Validation of Reference Genes for Gene Expression Analysis in Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 589
Author(s):  
Xin Yan ◽  
Yibo Zhang ◽  
Kangkang Xu ◽  
Yawei Wang ◽  
Wenjia Yang
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Reference Genes ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Housekeeping Genes ◽  
Tuta Absoluta ◽  
Leaf Miner ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Internal Reference ◽  
Experimental Conditions

The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta is a destructive pest of tomato. The leaf-mining activities of its larvae can cause significant yield losses. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is commonly used to measure gene expression, and the selection of stable reference genes for calibration and standardization is critical for accurate use of RT-qPCR. We studied the stable expression of nine common housekeeping genes in T. absoluta. These were examined at different developmental stages, in larval tissues, as well as those induced by exposure to 20E and insecticides. Four dedicated algorithms (geNorm, BestKeeper, NormFinder, and ΔCt method) and online tool (RefFinder) were used to analyze and rank the tested reference genes. Based on the standardized gene expression data of target gene ecdysone receptor (EcR), the applicability of specific reference genes was verified. The results clarify that the optimal internal reference genes vary greatly under different experimental conditions. GAPDH and RPS11 were the best reference genes for developmental stages; RPL28 and RPL10 for different tissues; EF1α and RPL28 for 20E treatment; EF1α and RPL7A for insecticide treatments. The most suitable reference genes in all experimental conditions are EF1α and RPL28.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Candidate Reference Genes Stability for Gene Expression Analysis by Reverse Transcription QPCR in Clostridium Perfringens

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Williams ◽  
Mostafa Ghanem
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Clostridium Perfringens ◽  
Reference Gene ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Reference Genes ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Toxin Gene ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Toxin Gene Expression

Abstract Identification of stable reference genes for normalization purposes is necessary for obtaining reliable and accurate results of reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analyses. To our knowledge, no reference gene(s) have been validated for this purpose in Clostridium perfringens. In this study, the expression profile of ten candidate reference genes from three strains of C. perfringens were assessed for stability under various experimental conditions using geNorm in qbase+. These stability rankings were then compared to stability assessments evaluated by BestKeeper, NormFinder, delta Ct, and RefFinder algorithms. When comparing all the analyses; gyrA, ftsZ, and recA were identified within the most stable genes under the different experimental conditions and were further tested as a set of reference genes for normalization of alpha toxin gene expression over a 22-hour period. Depending on the condition, rpoA and rho might also be suitable to include as part of the reference set. Although commonly used for the purpose of normalizing RT-qPCR data, the 16S rRNA gene (rrs) was found to be an unsuitable gene to be used as a reference. This work provides a framework for the selection of a suitable stable reference gene set for data normalization of C. perfringens gene expression.

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