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Multiplex qPCR—how to get started

Learn how multiplex qPCR can save sample, reagent cost, and time. The article provides recommendations for multiplex qPCR assay design and experimental setup.

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Advantages of multiplex qPCR

In multiplex qPCR, multiple targets are amplified in a single reaction tube. Each target is amplified by a different set of primers, and a uniquely-labeled probe distinguishes each PCR amplicon. Thus, you can measure the expression levels of several targets or genes of interest quickly.

To determine whether multiplexing is appropriate for your experiments, consider sample size, reagent cost, and time spent. Multiplex qPCR minimizes the amount of starting material required, which can be of critical value when samples are limited and/or precious. Even when starting material is plentiful, multiplexing can save time by increasing throughput and decreasing sample handling. It can also save on the cost of reagents and other consumables.

Steps for multiplex qPCR assay design

As multiple primers and probes must be designed for this application, we strongly recommend use of a design tool with a validated algorithm. Suitable tools can be found in the SciTools® applications section of the IDT website. For best results:

Step 1. Select primer and probe sequences. If you are working with human, mouse, or rat targets, IDT has done the work for you by providing a library of predesigned assays (primer and probe sequences) for virtually every sequence in these genomes. This powerful design engine identifies assays using up-to-date sequence information. These assays have been individually BLAST searched across the transcriptome thereby reducing cross reactivity. Select a few assays for each gene of interest for these species, using the PrimeTime® Predesigned qPCR Assay Selection Tool. If you are working with a species other than human, mouse, or rat, or want to force certain custom design criteria, use the PrimerQuest® Tool.

Step 2. Analyze primer and probe sequences. Use the OligoAnalyzer® Tool to identify primer/probe hairpins, homo- or heterodimers, or any primer/probe complementarity across the different assays to be used in the same multiplex qPCR experiment. Avoid extensive 3’ overlap (greater than 4 bases) between primers, otherwise the primers can be consumed in nonproductive amplification. Often, shifting the primers over a few bases will reduce the overlap.

Step 3. Always test assay efficiency. Run each assay in singleplex reactions before conducting multiplex qPCR. This is important to determine that the Cq values obtained are real and not artificially reduced by the multiplex reaction.

D-PCR16CC-multiplexpcrstarted-T1

Table 1. Suggested quenchers for use in multiplex qPCR assay probes. Additional dyes are available from IDT. Note that you must verify that your qPCR instrument is calibrated for the dyes you choose, and if not, you must perform calibration or change your choices. For more information on dye spectral emission and excitation values, go to www.idtdna.com/catalog/ Modifications/Dyes.aspx.
1 NHS ester
2 The TEX615 spectrum overlaps with that of ROX; therefore, TEX615 should not be used in a platform that requires a ROX passive reference or with master mixes containing high concentrations of ROX dye.

D-PCR16CC-multiplexpcrstarted-F1

Figure 2. Validating Multiplex Reactions. In this assay validation experiment, four 10 μL c-src tyrosine (CSK) qPCR assays were run in triplicate on a CFX384 instrument (Bio-Rad) using 1X PerfeCTa Multiplex qPCR SuperMix (Quanta Biosciences); 500 nM each primer; 250 nM each FAM-labeled probe; and 20, 2, 0.2, and 0.02 ng cDNA made from Universal Human Reference RNA (Agilent). Reactions were performed at 2 min 95°C; 40 x (15 sec 95°C, 45 sec 60°C). Note that for a given assay, Cq values remain virtually unchanged in singleplex and multiplex reactions. The lower fluorescence intensity seen for the multiplex reactions is expected, as reagents are consumed more quickly.

Considerations for multiplex qPCR setup

The experimental design for multiplexing is more complicated than for single-reaction qPCR. Amplification of the multiple targets in a single sample can be influenced by factors including gene expression levels, primer interactions, and competition for reaction reagents. Therefore, careful primer and probe design and optimization of amplification are critical.

  1. Check for primer and probe sequence interactions. Use the free IDT OligoAnalyzer Tool to ensure that primer and probe sets lack hairpins, and homo- and heterodimer interactions. From there, you can link directly to BLAST to further analyze possible sequence interactions. For help with using the BLAST tool, see Tips for using BLAST to locate PCR primers.
  2. Use a unique reporter dye to identify each target. Determine the dyes for which your qPCR instrument has been calibrated or is capable of detecting once calibrated. The manufacturer can provide instrument excitation and detectable emission wavelengths. Choose dyes with appropriate excitation wavelengths with little to no overlap in their emission spectra (Table 1, above). Take into account overall fluorescence intensity as well. For example, FAM is a good dye choice for low copy transcripts because it has high fluorescent signal intensity. Fluorophores with lower signal intensities can then be used for more abundant transcripts. Keep in mind that you may need to calibrate your instrument for a particular dye prior to use.
  3. Minimize signal cross-talk by using probes that quench well. Highly efficient, dark quenchers—especially those used in combination with a secondary quencher such as the ZEN™ Quencher have an added advantage in multiplex reactions. They considerably reduce background fluorescence leading to increased sensitivity and end-point signal, as well as earlier Cq values.
  4. Optimize individual reactions. Ensure that each individual assay reaction is >90% efficient. Test this by running individual assay reactions even if you are using assays that have been published or tested in other laboratories. IDT dsDNA gBlocks® Gene Fragments and long, ssDNA Ultramer® Oligonucleotides are ideal as targets for such studies. Validate the multiplex reactions. Run a combined reaction alongside individual reactions to ensure comparable performance. Compare the standard curves and verify that the Cq values are similar throughout the dynamic range to be tested. While the endpoint fluorescent signal will likely be reduced in a multiplex reaction compared to a singleplex, the Cq value should not be affected (Figure 2, above). Optimize the multiplex reactions.

Master mix. The effects of number of targets, target abundance, and amplicon length on the consumption of reaction components are greater for multiplex reactions than singleplex. If any reaction components are limiting, multiplex reactions can show either significant Cq delays in the case of qPCR, or total loss of PCR products, especially for the targets of lowest abundance.

Master mixes specifically formulated for multiplexing are available commercially. When a homemade master mix optimized for singleplex qPCR is being adapted for multiplex reactions, give careful consideration to adjusting the concentration of reaction components. A multiplex reaction will require at least twice as much polymerase as the minimum amount previously titrated for a singleplex qPCR. Additionally, if dNTPs were not in excess for the singleplex reaction, the dNTP concentration will have to be increased. The increased total amount of nucleic acid in the reaction (e.g., from adding additional dNTPs as well as primers/probe, or by generating more template) will decrease the free Mg2+ available for the polymerase, requiring adjustment to the Mg2+ concentration.

Primer ratio. If the standard 2:1 primer-to-probe ratio for each of the genes analyzed does not provide optimal results, adjust the primer concentrations. For highly expressed targets, use a 1:1 primer-to-probe ratio. Increase the primer-to-probe ratio for targets expressed at lower levels. IDT offers custom primer-to-probe ratio options for PrimeTime qPCR Assays.

Multiplex qPCR to measure siRNA knockdown

Scientists at IDT measure siRNA target knockdown using at least 2 different qPCR assays located at different positions within the target gene. Interrogating a single sample with multiple assays per target gene can identify artifacts, such as retained RNA fragments, that are sometimes seen after siRNA treatment [1]. As an example, Figure 1 shows the results of an experiment where 2 distinct qPCR assays (positions indicated by the red and blue bars on the x axis) were used to measure knockdown of Gene X expression by 120 different Dicer-substrate RNAs (DsiRNAs) [2]. The DsiRNAs were designed to target different regions of Gene X (indicated by the colored x axis). Multiplex qPCR made it possible to run the 2 assays simultaneously along with several normalizers, while minimizing use of sample, reagents, and lab consumables. In this particular scenario, results from the 5’ and 3’ qPCR assays were significantly different, with the 3’ qPCR assay providing more consistent data from the series of DsiRNAs used.

Multiplex qPCR_Fig 1

Figure 1. Results from a single qPCR assay can be difficult to interpret. In this experiment, a set of 120 Dicer-substrate RNAs (DsiRNAs) were used for RNAi targeting of the 5’ UTR, coding sequence (CDS), and 3’UTR of “Gene X” mRNA; their positioning is indicated by the colored X axis bar. mRNA knockdown was measured using 2 qPCR assays, one amplifying a region near the 5’ end of the coding sequence of “Gene X” (Assay 1, red diamonds), and the other amplifying a fragment in the 3’ UTR (Assay 2, blue circles). The percentage of “Gene X” mRNA detected by Assay 1 varies, depending on the DsiRNA target site. These data demonstrate that when DsiRNAs that targeted more 3’ “Gene X” positions were used, the expression levels detected by the 5’ and 3’ qPCR assays were significantly different. This result exemplifies the importance of using more than one qPCR assay per target to identify one that will provide a consistent measure of mRNA expression knockdown. Multiplex qPCR is an efficient, cost-effective method for analyzing several such assays in a single reaction.

References

  1. Chen G, Kronenberger P, et al. (2011) Influence of RT-qPCR primer position on EGFR interference efficacy in lung cancer cells. Biol Proced Online, 13:1. 
  2. Kim DH, Behlke MA, et al. (2005) Synthetic dsRNA dicer substrates enhance RNAi potency and efficacy. Nat Biotechnol, 23(2):222–226.

Author(s)

Ellen Prediger, PhD, Senior Scientific Writer, IDT.

Published Mar 29, 2013
Revised/updated Aug 22, 2016

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PrimeTime Predesigned qPCR Assays

Probe-based and intercalating dye-based assays available. FAM-labeled, double-quenched probes.

For analysis of human, mouse, and rat transcriptomes.

PrimeTime Probe-based & Primer-only qPCR Assays

Assays offered in 3 versatile reaction scales—100, 500, or 2500. Tubes or 96-well plates.

Probes available with different dye–quencher combinations in the same plate.

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Probes designed with internal ZEN™ or TAO™ quencher, only 9 bases from the 5’ end.

Significantly decreases noise, while increasing sensitivity and precision.

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Select primers and probes for your qPCR assays (human, mouse, rat), guaranteed at >90% efficiency.

Design primers or assays for PCR, qPCR, or sequencing with the PrimerQuest® Tool.

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