Validation of Potential Reference Genes for Real-Time qPCR Analysis in Pharaoh Ant, Monomorium pharaonis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.852357
• Publication Date: 2022-02-28T09:49:36Z
• Authors: Guo Ding; Qionghua Gao; Jun Chen; Jie Zhao; Guojie Zhang; Weiwei Liu
• Keywords: Reference Genes

Ants are highly diverse social insects living in colonies consisted of up to millions individuals with reproductive division labors. Due the interests disclosing genetic and epigenetic regulation mechanisms underlying distinct developmental trajectories between castes labor colonies, many ant species have recently been established as laboratory models for evolutionary development behavior studies. These functional studies often request a precise quantification relative gene expression level, which relies on stably expressed reference genes normalization. A core set reliable this purpose however has not yet ants. In present study, we tested patterns amplification efficiencies 12 abundantly candidate Monomorium pharaonis, one few that suitable rearing experimentation. We quantified levels these by RT-qPCR seven different conditions: embryo development, sexual worker adult phenotypes, tissues, two abiotic manipulative treatments pharaoh ant. Finally, five genes, elongation factor-1 alpha (EF1A), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), TATA-box-binding protein (TATA), tubulin gamma-2 chain-like (TBLg2), heat shock 67B2-like (HSP67) were found be most stable across conditions. also identified applicable each condition optimal number entailed evaluated. Our study validates analysis lays foundation future