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Selection of reference genes for normalization of qRT-PCR analysis of differentially expressed genes in soybean exposed to cadmium

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Abstract

Accurate normalization of gene expression with qRT-PCR depends on the use of appropriate reference genes (RGs) for the species under a given set of experimental conditions. Multiple RGs for gene expression analysis of soybean exposed to heavy metal stress treatment have not been reported in the literature. In this study, we evaluated the expression stability of ten candidate RGs in leaves, roots and stems of two soybean cultivars exposed to cadmium (Cd). Based on the geNorm and NormFinder analysis, ACT3, PP2A, ELF1B and F-box were the most stable RGs in these gene expression studies. In contrast, G6PD, UBC2, TUB, and ELF1A were the most variable ones and should not be used as RGs in these experimental conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Green Farm Ontario and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for financial support to K. Yu and V. Poysa and the China Scholarship Council for financial support to Y. Wang.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2582 County Road 20, Harrow, ON, N0R 1G0, Canada

    Yi Wang, Kangfu Yu, Vaino Poysa & Chun Shi

  2. Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China

    Yi Wang & Yonghong Zhou

Authors
  1. Yi Wang
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  2. Kangfu Yu
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  3. Vaino Poysa
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  4. Chun Shi
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  5. Yonghong Zhou
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Correspondence to Kangfu Yu.

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Wang, Y., Yu, K., Poysa, V. et al. Selection of reference genes for normalization of qRT-PCR analysis of differentially expressed genes in soybean exposed to cadmium. Mol Biol Rep 39, 1585–1594 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-011-0897-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-011-0897-9

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