title: Evaluation of control transcripts in real-time RT-PCR expression analysis during maritime pine embryogenesis.
abstract: In order to determine the suitability of reference or housekeeping genes as internal controls in real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) assays for quantification of target mRNAs, we studied the levels of expression of four candidate reference genes in maritime pine by real-time RT-PCR. The expression levels obtained for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase, 18S ribosomal RNA, eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4AII and ubiquitin in nine stages of embryo development revealed that none of the genes tested proved to be suitable as an internal control. Copy number quantification of the four transcripts showed an average relative variation of seven fold. We propose that the combination of a precise method for RNA quantification, internal controls for monitoring RT reaction and PCR efficiency and a robust external standard curve can guarantee a reliable absolute quantification of mRNA transcripts in real time RT-PCR. This approach may avoid the controversy in the use of housekeeping genes and may assume special significance in tissues undergoing developmental changes.
authors: Grupo Pinus, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica (IBET)/Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica (ITQB), Aptd. 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal.
authors: Sónia
authors: S
authors: Gonçalves
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Cairney
authors: João
authors: J
authors: Maroco
authors: M Margarida
authors: MM
authors: Oliveira
authors: Célia
authors: C
authors: Miguel
mesh_terms: D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D024581:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating) / Q000235:genetics; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors / Q000235:genetics; D028223:Pinus / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012015:Reference Standards; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D025801:Ubiquitin; D024581:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating)