内参基因在昆虫实时荧光定量PCR中的研究进展

作为一种高效的定量PCR技术,实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)因其灵敏度高、特异性强、定量准确等优点,已被广泛运用于昆虫基因表达和转录分析。然而,为了控制样本RNA在质量和逆转录效率上存在差异,必须筛选表达稳定的"看家基因"作为内参基因,对目的基因表达量进行校正和标准化。许多学者研究表明,昆虫种类和实验条件的不同,导致选择的内参基因也不尽相同。因此,本文综述了前人有关昆虫内参基因的研究及其稳定性评价,为其它昆虫内参基因的研究提供理论参考依据。     

Selection of control genes for quantitative RT-PCR based on microarray data

Use of internal reference gene(s) is necessary for adequate quantification of target gene expression by RT-PCR. Herein, we elaborated a strategy of control gene selection based on microarray data and illustrated it by analyzing endomyocardial biopsies with acute cardiac rejection and infection. Using order statistics and binomial distribution we evaluated the probability of finding low-varying genes by chance. For analysis, the microarray data were divided into two sample subsets. Among the first 10% of genes with the lowest standard deviations, we found 14 genes common to both subsets. After normalization using two selected genes, high correlation was observed between expression of target genes evaluated by microarray and RT-PCR, and in independent dataset by RT-PCR (r = 0.9, p < 0.001). In conclusion, we showed a simple and reliable strategy of selection and validation of control genes for RT-PCR from microarray data that can be easily applied for different experimental designs and tissues.     

Locked nucleic acids for optimizing displacement probes for quantitative real-time PCR

Displacement probes have recently been described as a novel probe-based detection system for use in both quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping analysis. Previous reports have shown that shorter probes (23 mer) had improved detection sensitivity relative to longer probes (29 mer), with the likely reason for this effect being the improved hybridization kinetics of shorter probes. Sterically modified locked nucleic acids (LNAs) have been used to improve the design of a range of real-time PCR probes by raising the melting temperature (Tm) of the probe and enabling shorter probe designs to be considered. A displacement probe for gapdh was designed and tested successfully, and this probe was then redesigned with LNAs to an 11 mer probe. This probe showed increased detection sensitivity compared with the original 26 mer probe. To detect the widest range of displacement probe designs at maximum sensitivity, we have also developed a novel fluorescence capture two-step PCR protocol. This method produces enhanced probe quenching with a single standardized protocol ideal for high-throughput applications. The displacement probes tested produced sensitive and efficient quantitative analyses of template serial dilutions when compared with a range of commercially available predesigned real-time PCR detection systems, including TaqMan MGB probes, QuantiTect MGB probes, and LUX primers.     

Calibration-curve-free quantitative PCR: a quantitative method for specific nucleic acid sequences without using calibration curves

We have developed a simple quantitative method for specific nucleic acid sequences without using calibration curves. This method is based on the combined use of competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence quenching. We amplified a gene of interest (target) from DNA samples and an internal standard (competitor) with a sequence-specific fluorescent probe using PCR and measured the fluorescence intensities before and after PCR. The fluorescence of the probe is quenched on hybridization with the target by guanine bases, whereas the fluorescence is not quenched on hybridization with the competitor. Therefore, quench rate (i.e., fluorescence intensity after PCR divided by fluorescence intensity before PCR) is always proportional to the ratio of the target to the competitor. Consequently, we can calculate the ratio from quench rate without using a calibration curve and then calculate the initial copy number of the target from the ratio and the initial copy number of the competitor. We successfully quantified the copy number of a recombinant DNA of genetically modified (GM) soybean and estimated the GM soybean contents. This method will be particularly useful for rapid field tests of the specific gene contamination in samples.     

Adapter-tagged competitive PCR (ATAC-PCR) – a high-throughput quantitative PCR method for microarray validation

Adapter-tagged competitive PCR (ATAC-PCR) is an advanced version of competitive quantitative PCR that is characterized by the addition of unique adapters to cDNA derived from each sample RNA. Using multiple adapters, we can accurately measure the relative expression ratios of many samples, with a calibration curve obtained from internal standards included in the same reaction. ATAC-PCR can identify differences in gene expression as small as twofold, even from very small amounts of sample RNA. This technique is suitable for confirming results obtained with cDNA microarrays or differential display, and it can process more than a thousand of genes per day when used in conjunction with a capillary DNA sequencer.     

Differential regulation of host cellular genes by HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr): cDNA microarray analysis using isogenic virus

HIV-1 Vpr is a protein with multiple functions. It has been suggested that such pleiotropic effects by a viral protein may be mediated by its association with viral and cellular proteins or through modulation of expression of specific cellular genes. To address this, we used cDNA microarray techniques to analyze the regulation of a panel of host cellular genes by HIV-1 Vpr using isogenic HIV-1 either with or without Vpr expression. Results indicate that Vpr downregulated the expression of genes involved in cell cycle/proliferation regulation, DNA repair, tumor antigens, and immune activation factors, and upregulated many ribosomal and structural proteins. These results for the first time reveal the involvement of several potential cellular genes, which may be useful, both for understanding Vpr functions and for the development of therapeutics targeting the Vpr molecule.     

Event-specific qualitative and quantitative PCR methods for the detection of genetically modified rapeseed Oxy-235

Oxy-235 is an oxynil-tolerant genetically modified rapeseed approved for commercialized planting in Canada. The aim of this study was to establish event-specific qualitative and quantitative detection methods for Oxy-235. Both the 5'- and 3'-junction sequences spanning the plant DNA and the integrated gene construct of the Oxy-235 event were isolated, sequenced and analyzed. A 1298-bp deletion of the rapeseed genomic DNA that showed a high similarity to the mRNA sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana was found in the integration site of the insert DNA. Event-specific qualitative PCR methods were established, with one method producing a 105-bp product specific for the 5'-integration junction and the other method producing a 124-bp product specific for the 3'-junction. The absolute detection limits for the qualitative PCR were determined to be 100 initial template copies for the 5'-junction and ten for the 3'-junction. Quantitative methods were also developed that targeted both of the junction fragments. The limit of detection of the quantitative PCR analysis was ten initial template copies for either the 5'- or 3'-junction, while the limit of quantification was determined to be approximately 50 initial template copies. The real-time PCR systems so established were examined with two mixed rapeseed samples with known Oxy-235 contents and found to obtain the expected results.     

Detection of Helicobacter species DNA by quantitative PCR in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy individuals and of patients with inflammatory bowel disease

In many animal species different intestinal Helicobacter species have been described and a few species are associated with intestinal infection. In humans, the only member of the Helicobacter family which is well described in literature is Helicobacter pylori. No other Helicobacter-associated diseases have definitely been shown in humans. We developed a sensitive quantitative PCR to investigate whether Helicobacter species DNA can be detected in the human gastrointestinal tract. We tested gastric biopsies (including biopsies from H. pylori positive persons), intestinal mucosal biopsies and fecal samples from healthy persons, and intestinal mucosal biopsies from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for the presence of Helicobacter species. All gastric biopsies, positive for H. pylori by culture, were also positive in our newly developed PCR. No Helicobacter species were found in the mucosal biopsies from patients with IBD (n = 50) nor from healthy controls (n = 25). All fecal samples were negative. Our study suggests that Helicobacter species, other than H. pylori, are not present in the normal human gastrointestinal flora and our results do not support a role of Helicobacter species in IBD.     

Insights from the clustering of microarray data associated with the heart disease

Heart failure (HF) is the major of cause of mortality and morbidity in the developed world. Gene expression profiles of animal model of heart failure have been used in number of studies to understand human cardiac disease. In this study, statistical methods of analysing microarray data on cardiac tissues from dogs with pacing induced HF were used to identify differentially expressed genes between normal and two abnormal tissues. The unsupervised techniques principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were explored to distinguish between three different groups of 12 arrays and to separate the genes which are up regulated in different conditions among 23912 genes in heart failure canines'' microarray data. It was found that out of 23912 genes, 1802 genes were differentially expressed in the three groups at 5% level of significance and 496 genes were differentially expressed at 1% level of significance using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The genes clustered using PCA and clustering analysis were explored in the paper to understand HF and a small number of differentially expressed genes related to HF were identified.     

Detection of Mycobacterium immunogenum by real-time quantitative Taqman PCR

A quantitative real-time 5′-nuclease (Taqman) PCR technique was developed to specifically detect Mycobacterium immunogenum. rpoB-specific primers and Taqman probe were evaluated for detection of M. immunogenum DNA extracted from pure cultures and from industrial metal working fluids (MWFs). Specificity was confirmed and the sensitivity of detection of M. immunogenum genomic DNA was shown to be approximately 9 fg (2 cell equivalents). When tested on industrial metal working fluids from the UK and USA from which no M. immunogenum CFU were recovered, the assay detected between 3.4 × 10¹ and 1.9 × 10⁴ cell equivalents (CE) per ml, and increased the detection rate over culture to 37.5% (12 of 32 samples). This assay provides a specific, sensitive and rapid method for the detection of M. immunogenum and is applicable within industry for the early detection of this human pathogen and to the possible prevention of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) in workers.     

实时定量PCR法预测禾谷丝核菌Rhizoctonia cerealis基因组大小

【目的】准确测定基因组大小是进行禾谷丝核菌Rhizoctonia cerealis全基因组序列测定和拼接的基础,本研究旨在利用实时定量PCR方法预测禾谷丝核菌的基因组大小。【方法】首先克隆了禾谷丝核菌R0301菌株翻译延伸因子A基因(tef A)的部分序列,Southern杂交明确该基因在该病菌基因组中为单拷贝。以已测序立枯丝核菌(Rhizoctonia solani)AG1-IA融合群菌株GD118为对照,采用实时定量PCR的方法进行了禾谷丝核菌基因组大小的预测。【结果】实时定量PCR的方法可以比较准确的测定立枯丝核菌基因组的大小,研究首次预测了禾谷丝核菌的基因组大小位于32.2–36.6 Mb之间。【结论】实时定量PCR法是一种快速和简便的预测丝核菌基因组大小的方法。