Using ribosomal protein genes as reference: a tale of caution.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Housekeeping genes are needed in every tissue as their expression is required for survival, integrity or duplication of every cell. Housekeeping genes commonly have been used as reference genes to normalize gene expression data, the underlying assumption being that they are expressed in every cell type at approximately the same level. Often, the terms "reference genes" and "housekeeping genes" are used interchangeably. In this paper, we would like to distinguish between these terms. Consensus is growing that housekeeping genes which have traditionally been used to normalize gene expression data are not good reference genes. Recently, ribosomal protein genes have been suggested as reference genes based on a meta-analysis of publicly available microarray data.

Methodolo

SUBMITTER: Thorrez L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2267211 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature