Use of Chuk as an internal standard suitable for quantitative RT-PCR in mouse preimplantation embryos

Analysis of gene expression changes during preimplantation development by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) requires appropriate internal standards. Ideally, such a gene should show a constant level of transcripts per embryo across all preimplantation stages from unfertilized eggs to blastocysts. By analysing the microarray-based gene expression profiles of preimplantation embryos, it was found that a conserved helix–loop–helix ubiquitous kinase gene (Chuk, also known as IκB kinase α, IKKα or IKK1) satisfied this criterion. To test the utility of this gene as an internal standard for Q-PCR, the expression levels of two known genes (Nalp5/Mater, Pou5f1/Oct3/Oct4) were normalized by Chuk and other housekeeping genes (Actb, Gapdh, Eef1a1, and H2afz) and demonstrated that the former was more consistent with the expression patterns obtained by a whole-mount in-situ hybridization than those reported previously with the latter. It is concluded that Chuk, unlike other commonly used normalization controls, is a reliable and suitable internal standard for measuring gene expression levels by Q-PCR in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos.