Application of Real-time Fluorescent Quantitative PCR in Studies on Plants

Real-Lime fluorescent quantitative PCR is a method for quantitative analysis of gene expression developed in recent years, which has been widely used in various fields such as basic scientific research, clinical diagnosis, disease study, drug research and development since its appearance. It starts relatively late in study on plants, but has already been used for analysis of gene expression in plants and gene identification of exogenous genes. The principles or advantages and dis- advantages of real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, or its potential problems and condition optimizations in tests were introduced in this study, and then the appli- cation and prospect of real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR in study on plants were also been discussed.

Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR非特异性扩增的研究进展

Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)因其高效快速、操作简便、高度敏感等优点获得广泛应用,但因其强大的放大功能而容易出现非特异性扩增的问题,尤其是荧光染料法中更加明显。文章对RT-qPCR的原理、非特异性扩增的发生因素、解决方案及该技术的应用前景进行了综述。

Detection of Lactobacillus acidophilus in Fermented Material by Real-time Fluorescent Quantitative PCR

The species distinctive PCR primer of Lactobacillus acidophilus （ L. acidophilus） was designed according to 16S rRNA gene sequences of conunon Lac- tobacillus species in fermented material. Bacterial genome DNA of separated L. acidophilus in fermented sample was taken as template, and L. acidophilus in fer- mented material was conducted the quantitative determination by real-time quantitative PCR （RT-PCR）. Analysis on RT-PCR results shown that contents of L. aci- dophilus in the test sample reached 1.5 billion CFU / g. Test results shown that contents of L. acidophilus in fermented material could be detected accurately by the established RT-PCR method in the test. indicating that the established RT-PCR method could be aookued to the detection of L. acidophilus in fermented material.

Establishment of a Real-time Fluorescent Quantitative PCR Assay for Detection of Genetically Modified Maize Line MON88017

In order to improve the standardized technical systems of quantitative analyses for genetically modified organisms （GMOs） and products, ensure bio-safety and reduce ecological risk in China, a real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR assay was established for detection of genetically modified maize line MON88017. The established method was evaluated based on the specificity, sensitivity, accuracy and measurement uncertainty. The results showed that the established method had strong specificity in detection of genetically modified maize line MON88017. 1.50% MON88017 sample was detected with 29 replica- tions. The average measured value （ 1. 541% ） was close to the actual value （ 1.50% ） and the relative deviation was 2.70%. The variation coefficient of the measured value was 0.110 g ; the recovery was 100.00% and the measurement uncertainty was 0. 096. The limit of detection for genetically modified maize line MON88017 with the established method was 5 copies at the 97.5% confidence level. Thus, the real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR assay established in this study exhibited high specificity, accuracy and sensitivity, which could provide technical support for the safety supervision of genetically modified organ- isms and products in China.

Detection of Ratoon Stunting Disease in Virus-free Seedcane via Real-time Fluorescence Quantitative PCR

This study was to develop the real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR technique for detecting the ratoon stunting disease （RSD） in virus-free seedcane seedlings. Healthy tissue culture seedlings were obtained from six plants of sugarcane ROC22, which had been confirmed RSD-positive by detecting the sugarcane juice, by employing the sugarcane seedlings production protocol. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect RSD pathogens in tissue culture sam- pies. The results showed that target fragment of RSD pathogens was not found in all 10 samples in real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, with the Ct values of 37 - 39. The healthy tissue culture sugarcane seedlings do not carry RSD pathogens, indicating that adopting healthy seedcane seedlings production technique could thoroughly get rid of RSD pathogens.

Development and Preliminary Application of SYBR Green I Real-Time Fluorescence Quantitative PCR Method for Detecting Porcine Parvovirus Virus

According to VP2 gene sequence of the porcine parvovirus virus strain NADL-2 （NC001718） available in GenBank （NC_001718）, a pair of specific primer was designed, and the target fragment of 431 bp was obtained by PCR amplification. The products were ligated with pMD18- T vector and then transformed into bacteria DH5α for recombinant plasmid extraction. After PCR identification and sequencing, recombinant plasmid was used as a standard template to establish the standard curve of SYBR Green I fluorescence quantitative PCR. Sensitivity test, specificity test and repeatability test were also determined. The results indicated that there was a good linear relationship between threshold cycle of the standard curve and template concentration, R2 =0.997 6. Tm ranged from 82.3 to 82.9 ℃, while the sensitivity was 72.1 copies/μl with good specificity and repeatability. The developed SYBR Green I real-time quantitative PCR method to detect PPV VP2 gene laid the basis for further studies on patho- oenesis, early clinical diaonosis of this virus and quantitative analysis of PPV infection.

Temperature Stress at Grain Filling Stage Mediates Expression of Three Isoform Genes Encoding Starch Branching Enzymes in Rice Endosperm

An early-maturity indica rice variety Zhefu 49, whose grain quality and starch structure are sensitive to environmental temperature, was subjected to different temperatures （32℃ for high temperature and 22℃ for optimum temperature） at the grain filling stage in plant growth chambers, and the different expressions of three isoform genes （SBEI, SBEIII and SBE/V） encoding starch branching enzyme （SBE） in the endosperms were studied by the real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR （FQ-PCR） method. Effects of high temperature on the SBE expression in developing rice endosperrns were isoform-dependent. High temperature significantly down-regulated the expressions of SBEI and SBEIII, while up-regulated the expression of SBEIV. Compared with SBEIV and SBEIII, the expression of SBEI gene in Zhefu 49 rice endosperms was more sensitive to temperature variation at the grain filling stage. This study indicates that changes in weather/climate conditions especially temperature stress influence rice grain formation and its quality as evidenced by isoform expression.

Expressions of Toll Like Receptor(TLR)Genes in Paralichthys olivaceus After Induced by Different Extracts of Edwardsiella tarda

Toll like receptors(TLRs)are the main innate immune‘pattern recognition receptors’of animals,which play a central role in host cell recognition and responses to invasive pathogens,particularly common structures of microbial pathogens.In this study,the gene expression profiles of TLRs in the spleen,head kidney,gill,small intestine,liver,muscle,and heart of healthy Paralichthys olivaceus were detected by real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR).The TLR family members were widely expressed in different tissues with different basic expression profiles.The highest expressions of TLR1,5m,7,8,9,14,and 21 were found in the spleen;the highest expressions of TLR3 and TLR21 were found in the gill;the highest expressions of TLR2 and 5s were found in the small intestine.The second highest expressions of TLR3,7,and 8 were found in small intestine.The gene expression profiles of TLRs stimulated with Edwardsiella tarda DNA,RNA,and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)were also detected in spleen,head kidney and gill.TLR9 and TLR21 were sensitive to E.tarda DNA;TLR 8 and TLR21 were sensitive to E.tarda RNA;and TLR1 and TLR14 were sensitive to E.tarda LPS.The expressions of the other TLR genes showed no significant changes.The results imply that the expressions of these TLR genes in P.olivaceus are differently regulated in the whole body and play important roles in the immune response against E.tarda infection.

Developmental Changes of GH Gene in Tan Sheep and Correlation Analysis with Slaughter Traits

[ Objective] The paper was to study the differential expression of growth hormone （GH） gene in different ages and different tissues of Tan sheep. [ Method] Using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR （RT-PCR） assay, specific primers were designed according to the GH gene sequence published on Gen- Bank. With the total RNA of Tan sheep tissue as the template, the expression levels of GH gene in pectoral muscle, leg muscle and longissimus dorsi muscle at dif- ferent ages were analyzed. [ Result] In three types of muscle tissues, the expression patterns of GH gene in different tissues at the same month of age were pectoral muscle 〉 leg muscle 〉 longissimus dorsi muscle. The expression levels of GH gene were positively correlated with live weight before slaughter, carcass weight and net meat weight, and had significant positive correlation only with net meat weight （ P 〈 0.05 ）. [ Conclusion ] The content of GH gene in different tissues gradually increased with the increasing months of age, and there were extremely significant differences in expression level of GH gene among different months of age or different sites （P〈0. 01）.

Functional Analysis of Dunaliella salina Calmodulin Kinase Gene

[Objectives] This study was conducted to investigate the function of Dunaliella salina calmodulin kinase(CaM K) gene.[Methods] The sense and antisense gene fragments(223 bp) and spacer sequence(129 bp) of D.salina calmodulin kinase gene were cloned and inserted into the downstream part of the35 S promoter of the eukaryotic expression vector pM DCMGN-Cat.The siRNA expression system of CaM K gene was successfully constructed.The p CaM K-RNAi expression vector was transformed into D.salina cells by the LiA c/PEG-mediated method,giving transgenic D.salina.The expression of CaM K gene was then analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.[Results]The expression of CaM K gene in the transgenic D.salina was significantly reduced,by 70% compared with the control group,suggesting that the expression of CaM K gene was significantly inhibited.The examination of the growth status of D.salina showed that D.salina cell division and proliferation were also affected.It is proved that CaM K gene has a positive regulation effect on the division and proliferation of D.salina cells.[Conclusions] The study provides important information for further elucidating the function and action mechanism of D.salina calmodulin kinase gene.

Electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) acupoint upregulates mRNA expression of NeuroD molecules in the brains of newborn rats suffering in utero fetal distress

Neuro D plays a key regulatory effect on differentiation of neural stem cells into mature neurons in the brain.Thus,we assumed that electroacupuncture at Baihui（DU20） acupoint in newborn rats exposed to in utero fetal distress would influence expression of Neuro D.Electroacupuncture at Baihui was performed for 20 minutes on 3-day-old（Day 3） newborn Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to in utero fetal distress;electroacupuncture parameters consisted of sparse and dense waves at a frequency of 2–10 Hz.Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR results demonstrated that m RNA expression of Neuro D,a molecule that indicates Neuro D,increased with prolonged time in brains of newborn rats,and peaked on Day 22.The level of m RNA expression was similar between Day 16 and Day 35.These findings suggest that electro acupuncture at Baihui acupoint could effectively increase m RNA expression of molecules involved in Neuro D in the brains of newborn rats exposed to in utero fetal distress.

A simple and visualized method to screen for effective siRNAs by using green fluorescence protein (GFP) as a reporter

To screen for effective small interference RNA(siRNA),a simple and visualized method was developed using the green fluorescence protein(GFP)as a reporter.Candidate siRNAs targeting macrophage migration inhibition factor genes(MIF)were identified.By using the pEGFP-N3 vector,the MIF-GFP expression plasmid,pEGFP-MIF,was constructed with the same Kozak consensus translation initiation site and start code ATG for the MIF-EGFP coding sequence.Based on the siRNA expression vector pSilencer-4.1,3 candidate MIF siRNA expression plasmids were constructed and co-transfected with the pEGFP-MIF into the HEK293 cells,respectively.The GFP expression in HEK293 cells could be viewed by fluorescence microscopy and the MIF mRNA expressions were determined by real-time quantitative PCR.The 3 candidate MIF siRNA expression plasmids were also co-transfected with the MIF expression plasmid into the HEK293 cells,respectively,and the MIF mRNA expressions were determined by real-time quantitative PCR.The results show that the down-regulated expression of the MIF mRNA was consistent with the GFP expression and the same effective MIF siRNAs were screened by using the pEGFP-MIF or MIF expression plasmid with the candidate MIF siRNAs expression plasmids.Therefore,by using the GFP as a reporter,a useful method was provided to screen for effective siRNAs targeting specific genes co-expressed with the GFP.This may be a good strategy for screening for effective siRNAs targeting different genes.