Reference gene selection for gene expression studies using RT-qPCR in virus-infected planthoppers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Planthoppers not only severely affect crops by causing mechanical damage when feeding but are also vectors of several plant virus species. The analysis of gene expression in persistently infected planthoppers might unveil the molecul...

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Main Authors: del Vas Mariana, Truol Graciela A, Mongelli Vanesa C, Sagadín Mónica, Maroniche Guillermo A
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2011-06-01
Series:Virology Journal
Online Access:http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/308
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author del Vas Mariana
Truol Graciela A
Mongelli Vanesa C
Sagadín Mónica
Maroniche Guillermo A
author_facet del Vas Mariana
Truol Graciela A
Mongelli Vanesa C
Sagadín Mónica
Maroniche Guillermo A
author_sort del Vas Mariana
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Planthoppers not only severely affect crops by causing mechanical damage when feeding but are also vectors of several plant virus species. The analysis of gene expression in persistently infected planthoppers might unveil the molecular basis of viral transmission. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) is currently the most accurate and sensitive method used for quantitative gene expression analysis. In order to normalize the resulting quantitative data, reference genes with constant expression during the experimental procedures are needed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Partial sequences of the commonly used reference genes actin (ACT), α1-tubulin (TUB), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1A), ribosomal protein S18 (RPS18) and polyubiquitin C (UBI) from <it>Delphacodes kuscheli</it>, a planthopper capable of persistently transmitting the plant fijivirus <it>Mal de Río Cuarto virus </it>(MRCV), were isolated for the first time. Specific RT-qPCR primers were designed and the expression stability of these genes was assayed in MRCV-infective and naïve planthoppers using geNorm, Normfinder and BestKeeper tools. The overall analysis showed that UBI, followed by 18S and ACT, are the most suitable genes as internal controls for quantitative gene expression studies in MRCV-infective planthoppers, while TUB and EF1A are the most variable ones. Moreover, EF1A was upregulated by MRCV infection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A RT-qPCR platform for gene expression analysis in the MRCV-infected planthopper vector <it>Delphacodes kuscheli </it>was developed. Our work is the first report on reference gene selection in virus-infected insects, and might serve as a precedent for future gene expression studies on MRCV and other virus-planthopper pathosystems.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-a7a9481fb46f405889a21260b431c69f2022-12-22T03:06:41ZengBMCVirology Journal1743-422X2011-06-018130810.1186/1743-422X-8-308Reference gene selection for gene expression studies using RT-qPCR in virus-infected planthoppersdel Vas MarianaTruol Graciela AMongelli Vanesa CSagadín MónicaMaroniche Guillermo A<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Planthoppers not only severely affect crops by causing mechanical damage when feeding but are also vectors of several plant virus species. The analysis of gene expression in persistently infected planthoppers might unveil the molecular basis of viral transmission. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) is currently the most accurate and sensitive method used for quantitative gene expression analysis. In order to normalize the resulting quantitative data, reference genes with constant expression during the experimental procedures are needed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Partial sequences of the commonly used reference genes actin (ACT), α1-tubulin (TUB), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1A), ribosomal protein S18 (RPS18) and polyubiquitin C (UBI) from <it>Delphacodes kuscheli</it>, a planthopper capable of persistently transmitting the plant fijivirus <it>Mal de Río Cuarto virus </it>(MRCV), were isolated for the first time. Specific RT-qPCR primers were designed and the expression stability of these genes was assayed in MRCV-infective and naïve planthoppers using geNorm, Normfinder and BestKeeper tools. The overall analysis showed that UBI, followed by 18S and ACT, are the most suitable genes as internal controls for quantitative gene expression studies in MRCV-infective planthoppers, while TUB and EF1A are the most variable ones. Moreover, EF1A was upregulated by MRCV infection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A RT-qPCR platform for gene expression analysis in the MRCV-infected planthopper vector <it>Delphacodes kuscheli </it>was developed. Our work is the first report on reference gene selection in virus-infected insects, and might serve as a precedent for future gene expression studies on MRCV and other virus-planthopper pathosystems.</p>http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/308
spellingShingle del Vas Mariana
Truol Graciela A
Mongelli Vanesa C
Sagadín Mónica
Maroniche Guillermo A
Reference gene selection for gene expression studies using RT-qPCR in virus-infected planthoppers
Virology Journal
title Reference gene selection for gene expression studies using RT-qPCR in virus-infected planthoppers
title_full Reference gene selection for gene expression studies using RT-qPCR in virus-infected planthoppers
title_fullStr Reference gene selection for gene expression studies using RT-qPCR in virus-infected planthoppers
title_full_unstemmed Reference gene selection for gene expression studies using RT-qPCR in virus-infected planthoppers
title_short Reference gene selection for gene expression studies using RT-qPCR in virus-infected planthoppers
title_sort reference gene selection for gene expression studies using rt qpcr in virus infected planthoppers
url http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/308
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AT mongellivanesac referencegeneselectionforgeneexpressionstudiesusingrtqpcrinvirusinfectedplanthoppers
AT sagadinmonica referencegeneselectionforgeneexpressionstudiesusingrtqpcrinvirusinfectedplanthoppers
AT maronicheguillermoa referencegeneselectionforgeneexpressionstudiesusingrtqpcrinvirusinfectedplanthoppers