Identifying the stability of housekeeping genes to be used for the quantitative real-time PCR normalization in retinal tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

AIM:To investigate the stability of the seven housekeeping genes:beta-actin(ActB),glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GAPDH),18s ribosomal unit 5(18s),cyclophilin A(CycA),hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase(HPRT),ribosomal protein large P0(36B4)and terminal uridylyl transferase 1(U6)in the diabetic retinal tissue of rat model.METHODS:The expression of these seven genes in rat retinal tissues was determined using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)in two groups;normal control rats and streptozotocininduced diabetic rats.The stability analysis of gene expression was investigated using geNorm,NormFinder,BestKeeper,and comparative delta-Ct(ΔCt)algorithms.RESULTS:The 36B4 gene was stably expressed in the retinal tissues of normal control animals;however,it was less stable in diabetic retinas.The 18s gene was expressed consistently in both normal control and diabetic rats’retinal tissue.That this gene was the best reference for data normalisation in RT-qPCR studies that used the retinal tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Furthermore,there was no ideal gene stably expressed for use in all experimental settings.CONCLUSION:Identifying relevant genes is a need for achieving RT-qPCR validity and reliability and must be appropriately achieved based on a specific experimental setting.

Expressions of genes related to genome stability and DNA repair in nasopharyngeal carcinoma clustering families

Objective： The aim of the study was to observe the expressions of genes related to genome stability and DNA repair in the members of nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） clustedng families. Methods： In the Zhongshan City where there is highly incidence rate of NPC, we chose the members of the NPC clustering families as objects, and the patients of nasopharyngitis and NPC as the control group. We isolated the RNA from the nasopharyngeal tissue, and synthesized its cRNA, the genome stability and DNA repair genes chip technique, chemiluminescent detection and real-time fluorescence quantita- tive technique were used to examine the genome stability and DNA repair genes in the nasopharyngeal tissue. Results： More genome stability and DNA repair genes were up-regulated in the members of the NPC clustering families than the NPC patients, and the range of up-regulated was high, with the over up-regulated 100 times genes including TEP1, MSH4, PMS2LI. Fewer genome stability and DNA repair genes were down-regulated in the members of the NPC clustering families than the NPC patients, the ubiquitin genes almost were down-regulated, the results also could be confirmed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Conclusion： There are specially expression character of genome stability and DNA repair genes in the members of NPC clustering families.

Selection of suitable internal controls for gene expression normalization in rats with spinal cord injury

There is a lack of systematic research on the expression of internal control genes used for gene expression normalization in real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in spinal cord injury research.In this study,we used rat models of spinal cord hemisection to analyze the expression stability of 13 commonly applied reference genes:Actb,Ankrd27,CypA,Gapdh,Hprt1,Mrpl10,Pgk1,Rictor,Rn18s,Tbp,Ubc,Ubxn11,and Ywhaz.Our results show that the expression of Ankrd27,Ubc,and Tbp were stable after spinal cord injury,while Actb was the most unstable internal control gene.Ankrd27,Ubc,Tbp,and Actb were consequently used to investigate the effects of internal control genes with differing stabilities on the normalization of target gene expression.Target gene expression levels and changes over time were similar when Ankrd27,Ubc,and Tbp were used as internal controls but different when Actb was used as an internal control.We recommend that Ankrd27,Ubc,and Tbp are used as internal control genes for real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in spinal cord injury research.This study was approved by the Administration Committee of Experimental Animals,Jiangsu Province,China(approval No.20180304-008)on March 4,2018.

Facilitating stable gene integration expression and copy number amplification in Bacillus subtilis through a reversible homologous recombination switch

Strengthening the expression level of integrated genes on the genome is crucial for consistently expressing key enzymes in microbial cell factories for efficient bioproduction in synthetic biology.In comparison to plasmid-based multi-copy expression,the utilization of chromosomal multi-copy genes offers increased stability of expression level,diminishes the metabolic burden on host cells,and enhances overall genetic stability.In this study,we developed the“BacAmp”,a stabilized gene integration expression and copy number amplification system for high-level expression in Bacillus subtilis,which was achieved by employing a combination of repressor and non-natural amino acids(ncAA)-dependent expression system to create a reversible switch to control the key gene recA for homologous recombination.When the reversible switch is turned on,genome editing and gene amplification can be achieved.Subsequently,the reversible switch was turned off therefore stabilizing the gene copy number.The stabilized gene amplification system marked by green fluorescent protein,achieved a 3-fold increase in gene expression by gene amplification and maintained the average gene copy number at 10 after 110 generations.When we implemented the gene amplification system for the regulation of N-acetylneuraminic acid(NeuAc)synthesis,the copy number of the critical gene increased to an average of 7.7,which yielded a 1.3-fold NeuAc titer.Our research provides a new avenue for gene expression in synthetic biology and can be applied in metabolic engineering in B.subtilis.