Why GAPDH is a housekeeping gene?

GAPDH is a key regulatory enzyme, which catalyzes the oxidative phosphorylation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate during glycolysis. β-actin is a cytoskeletal protein involved in cell structure and motility. Based on these basic and ubiquitous cellular functions, GAPDH and β-actin are considered as housekeeping genes.

What is the function of GAPDH?

​​Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is an enzyme involved in breaking down glucose to obtain energy. More specifically, in eukaryotes, this enzyme catalyzes the sixth step in glycolysis, converting glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to D-glycerate 1,3-bisphosphate (1,3-BPG).

Why is GAPDH used as a control?

GAPDH antibody, is usually used as a loading control antibody for Western Blot to normalize the levels of protein detected by confirming that protein loading is the same across the gel.

How is GAPDH regulated?

GAPDH is tightly regulated at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels, which are involved in the regulation of diverse GAPDH functions.

What are examples of housekeeping genes?

The proteins they code are generally involved in the basic functions necessary for the sustenance or maintenance of the cell. Examples of housekeeping genes include actin, GAPDH and ubiquitin.

What is the purpose of a housekeeping gene?

Housekeeping genes are typically constitutive genes that are required for the maintenance of basal cellular functions that are essential for the existence of a cell, regardless of its specific role in the tissue or organism.

Where is GAPDH used?

For this reason, GAPDH is widely used as a loading control for protein normalization in Western blotting. It is also useful for cell visualization in microscopy assays and can be used to investigate cell metabolism and functional activity.

Where is GAPDH found?

In addition to the cytoplasm where majority of GAPDH is located under the basal condition, GAPDH is also found in the particulate fractions, such as the nucleus, the mitochondria, and the small vesicular fractions. When cells are exposed to various stressors, dynamic subcellular re-distribution of GAPDH occurs.

Why are housekeeping genes used in PCR?

The real-time PCR (RT-PCR) is a modern and efficient tool in measuring the levels of mRNA expression in different types of the samples; their use together with the housekeeping genes are ideal for decreasing the possible errors in RNA extraction and contamination during the manipulations of the samples, thus increasing …

What are housekeeping genes used for?

Where are housekeeping genes found?

In molecular biology, housekeeping genes are typically constitutive genes that are required for the maintenance of basic cellular function, and are expressed in all cells of an organism under normal and patho-physiological conditions.

Is 16S rRNA a housekeeping gene?

Bacterial Pathogens Housekeeping genes are essential, are found by definition in all bacteria, and evolve more rapidly than 16S rRNA genes. They are thus more discriminating regions.