title: Selection of reference genes for expression studies with fish myogenic cell cultures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Relatively few studies have used cell culture systems to investigate gene expression and the regulation of myogenesis in fish. To produce robust data from quantitative real-time PCR mRNA levels need to be normalised using internal reference genes which have stable expression across all experimental samples. We have investigated the expression of eight candidate genes to identify suitable reference genes for use in primary myogenic cell cultures from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). The software analysis packages geNorm, Normfinder and Best keeper were used to rank genes according to their stability across 42 samples during the course of myogenic differentiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial results showed several of the candidate genes exhibited stable expression throughout myogenic culture while Sdha was identified as the least stable gene. Further analysis with geNorm, Normfinder and Bestkeeper identified Ef1alpha, Hprt1, Ppia and RNApolII as stably expressed. Comparison of data normalised with the geometric average obtained from combinations of any three of these genes showed no significant differences, indicating that any combination of these genes is valid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The geometric average of any three of Hprt1, Ef1alpha, Ppia and RNApolII is suitable for normalisation of gene expression data in primary myogenic cultures from Atlantic salmon.
authors: Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK. nib@st-andrews.ac.uk
authors: Neil I
authors: NI
authors: Bower
authors: Ian A
authors: IA
authors: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012015:Reference Standards; D020317:Salmo salar / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D032496:Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins