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Liu Z, Xiao J, Xia Y, Wu Q, Zhao C, Li D. Selection and validation of reference genes for RT-qPCR-based analyses of Anastatus japonicus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Helicopteridae). Front Physiol 2022; 13:1046204. [PMID: 36338494 PMCID: PMC9626802 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1046204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
RT-qPCR remains a vital approach for molecular biology studies aimed at quantifying gene expression in a range of physiological or pathological settings. However, the use of appropriate reference genes is essential to attain meaningful RT-qPCR results. Anastatus japonicus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Helicopteridae) is an important egg parasitoid wasp and natural enemy of fruit bugs and forest caterpillars. While recent transcriptomic studies have analyzed gene expression profiles in A. japonicus specimens, offering a robust foundation for functional research focused on this parasitoid, no validated A. japonicus reference genes have yet been established, hampering further research efforts. Accordingly, this study sought to address this issue by screening for the most stable internal reference genes in A. japonicus samples to permit reliable RT-qPCR analyses. The utility of eight candidate reference genes (ACTIN, TATA, GAPDH, TUB, RPL13, RPS6, EF1α, RPS3a) was assessed under four different conditions by comparing developmental stages (larvae, pupae, adults), tissues (abdomen, chest, head), sex (male or female adults), or diapause states (diapause induction for 25, 35, 45, or 55 days, or diapause termination). RefFinder was used to calculate gene stability based on the integration of four algorithms (BestKeeper, Normfinder, geNorm, and ΔCt method) to determine the optimal RT-qPCR reference gene. Based on this approach, RPS6 and RPL13 were found to be the most reliable reference genes when assessing different stages of development, while ACTIN and EF1α were optimal when comparing adults of different sexes, RPL13 and EF1α were optimal when analyzing different tissues, and TATA and ACTIN were optimal for different diapause states. These results provide a valuable foundation for future RT-qPCR analyses of A. japonicus gene expression and function under a range of experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junjiang Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yue Xia
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qifeng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Can Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Can Zhao, Dunsong Li,
| | - Dunsong Li
- Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Can Zhao, Dunsong Li,
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