Reversed graph embedding resolves complex single-cell trajectories

Single-cell trajectories can unveil how gene regulation governs cell fate decisions. However, learning the structure of complex trajectories with multiple branches remains a challenging computational problem. We present Monocle 2, an algorithm that uses reversed graph embedding to describe multiple fate decisions in a fully unsupervised manner. We applied Monocle 2 to two studies of blood development and found that mutations in the genes encoding key lineage transcription factors divert cells to alternative fates.

The single-cell transcriptional landscape of mammalian organogenesis

Mammalian organogenesis is a remarkable process. Within a short timeframe, the cells of the three germ layers transform into an embryo that includes most of the major internal and external organs. Here we investigate the transcriptional dynamics of mouse organogenesis at single-cell resolution. Using single-cell combinatorial indexing, we profiled the transcriptomes of around 2 million cells derived from 61 embryos staged between 9.5 and 13.5 days of gestation, in a single experiment. The resulting 'mouse organogenesis cell atlas' (MOCA) provides a global view of developmental processes during this critical window. We use Monocle 3 to identify hundreds of cell types and 56 trajectories, many of which are detected only because of the depth of cellular coverage, and collectively define thousands of corresponding marker genes. We explore the dynamics of gene expression within cell types and trajectories over time, including focused analyses of the apical ectodermal ridge, limb mesenchyme and skeletal muscle.

The sleep disorder canine narcolepsy is caused by a mutation in the hypocretin (orexin) receptor 2 gene

Narcolepsy is a disabling sleep disorder affecting humans and animals. It is characterized by daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, and striking transitions from wakefulness into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. In this study, we used positional cloning to identify an autosomal recessive mutation responsible for this sleep disorder in a well-established canine model. We have determined that canine narcolepsy is caused by disruption of the hypocretin (orexin) receptor 2 gene (Hcrtr2). This result identifies hypocretins as major sleep-modulating neurotransmitters and opens novel potential therapeutic approaches for narcoleptic patients.

Single-cell mRNA quantification and differential analysis with Census

Single-cell gene expression studies promise to unveil rare cell types and cryptic states in development and disease through a stunningly high-resolution view of gene regulation. However, measurements from single-cell RNA-Seq are highly variable, frustrating efforts to assay how expression differs between cells. We introduce Census, an algorithm available through our single-cell analysis toolkit Monocle 2, which converts relative RNA-Seq expression levels into relative transcript counts without the need for experimental spike-in controls. We show that analyzing changes in relative transcript counts leads to dramatic improvements in accuracy compared to normalized read counts and enables new statistical tests for identifying developmentally regulated genes. We explore the power of Census through reanalysis of single-cell studies in several developmental and disease contexts. Census counts can be analyzed with widely used regression techniques to reveal changes in cell fate-dependent gene expression, splicing patterns, and allelic imbalances, demonstrating that Census enables robust single-cell analysis at multiple layers of gene regulation.

Comprehensive single-cell transcriptional profiling of a multicellular organism

To resolve cellular heterogeneity, we developed a combinatorial indexing strategy to profile the transcriptomes of single cells or nuclei, termed sci-RNA-seq (single-cell combinatorial indexing RNA sequencing). We applied sci-RNA-seq to profile nearly 50,000 cells from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans at the L2 larval stage, which provided >50-fold "shotgun" cellular coverage of its somatic cell composition. From these data, we defined consensus expression profiles for 27 cell types and recovered rare neuronal cell types corresponding to as few as one or two cells in the L2 worm. We integrated these profiles with whole-animal chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data to deconvolve the cell type-specific effects of transcription factors. The data generated by sci-RNA-seq constitute a powerful resource for nematode biology and foreshadow similar atlases for other organisms.

Spatiotemporal transcriptomic atlas of mouse organogenesis using DNA nanoball-patterned arrays

Spatially resolved transcriptomic technologies are promising tools to study complex biological processes such as mammalian embryogenesis. However, the imbalance between resolution, gene capture, and field of view of current methodologies precludes their systematic application to analyze relatively large and three-dimensional mid- and late-gestation embryos. Here, we combined DNA nanoball (DNB)-patterned arrays and in situ RNA capture to create spatial enhanced resolution omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq). We applied Stereo-seq to generate the mouse organogenesis spatiotemporal transcriptomic atlas (MOSTA), which maps with single-cell resolution and high sensitivity the kinetics and directionality of transcriptional variation during mouse organogenesis. We used this information to gain insight into the molecular basis of spatial cell heterogeneity and cell fate specification in developing tissues such as the dorsal midbrain. Our panoramic atlas will facilitate in-depth investigation of longstanding questions concerning normal and abnormal mammalian development.

A model for the mechanism of human topoisomerase I

The three-dimensional structure of a 70-kilodalton amino terminally truncated form of human topoisomerase I in complex with a 22-base pair duplex oligonucleotide, determined to a resolution of 2.8 angstroms, reveals all of the structural elements of the enzyme that contact DNA. The linker region that connects the central core of the enzyme to the carboxyl-terminal domain assumes a coiled-coil configuration and protrudes away from the remainder of the enzyme. The positively charged DNA-proximal surface of the linker makes only a few contacts with the DNA downstream of the cleavage site. In combination with the crystal structures of the reconstituted human topoisomerase I before and after DNA cleavage, this information suggests which amino acid residues are involved in catalyzing phosphodiester bond breakage and religation. The structures also lead to the proposal that the topoisomerization step occurs by a mechanism termed "controlled rotation."

Cicero Predicts cis-Regulatory DNA Interactions from Single-Cell Chromatin Accessibility Data

Linking regulatory DNA elements to their target genes, which may be located hundreds of kilobases away, remains challenging. Here, we introduce Cicero, an algorithm that identifies co-accessible pairs of DNA elements using single-cell chromatin accessibility data and so connects regulatory elements to their putative target genes. We apply Cicero to investigate how dynamically accessible elements orchestrate gene regulation in differentiating myoblasts. Groups of Cicero-linked regulatory elements meet criteria of "chromatin hubs"-they are enriched for physical proximity, interact with a common set of transcription factors, and undergo coordinated changes in histone marks that are predictive of changes in gene expression. Pseudotemporal analysis revealed that most DNA elements remain in chromatin hubs throughout differentiation. A subset of elements bound by MYOD1 in myoblasts exhibit early opening in a PBX1- and MEIS1-dependent manner. Our strategy can be applied to dissect the architecture, sequence determinants, and mechanisms of cis-regulation on a genome-wide scale.

Complex HLA-DR and -DQ interactions confer risk of narcolepsy-cataplexy in three ethnic groups

Human narcolepsy-cataplexy, a sleep disorder associated with a centrally mediated hypocretin (orexin) deficiency, is tightly associated with HLA-DQB1*0602. Few studies have investigated the influence that additional HLA class II alleles have on susceptibility to this disease. In this work, 1,087 control subjects and 420 narcoleptic subjects with cataplexy, from three ethnic groups, were HLA typed, and the effects of HLA-DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 were analyzed. As reported elsewhere, almost all narcoleptic subjects were positive for both HLA-DQA1*0102 and -DQB1*0602. A strong predisposing effect was observed in DQB1*0602 homozygotes, across all ethnic groups. Relative risks for narcolepsy were next calculated for heterozygous DQB1*0602/other HLA class II allelic combinations. Nine HLA class II alleles carried in trans with DQB1*0602 were found to influence disease predisposition. Significantly higher relative risks were observed for heterozygote combinations including DQB1*0301, DQA1*06, DRB1*04, DRB1*08, DRB1*11, and DRB1*12. Three alleles-DQB1*0601, DQB1*0501, and DQA1*01 (non-DQA1*0102)-were found to be protective. The genetic contribution of HLA-DQ to narcolepsy susceptibility was also estimated by use of lambda statistics. Results indicate that complex HLA-DR and -DQ interactions contribute to the genetic predisposition to human narcolepsy but that additional susceptibility loci are also most likely involved. Together with the recent hypocretin discoveries, these findings are consistent with an immunologically mediated destruction of hypocretin-containing cells in human narcolepsy-cataplexy.

Evaluation of PCR-generated chimeras, mutations, and heteroduplexes with 16S rRNA gene-based cloning

To evaluate PCR-generated artifacts (i.e., chimeras, mutations, and heteroduplexes) with the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA)-based cloning approach, a model community of four species was constructed from alpha, beta, and gamma subdivisions of the division Proteobacteria as well as gram-positive bacterium, all of which could be distinguished by HhaI restriction digestion patterns. The overall PCR artifacts were significantly different among the three Taq DNA polymerases examined: 20% for Z-Taq, with the highest processitivity; 15% for LA-Taq, with the highest fidelity and intermediate processitivity; and 7% for the conventionally used DNA polymerase, AmpliTaq. In contrast to the theoretical prediction, the frequency of chimeras for both Z-Taq (8.7%) and LA-Taq (6.2%) was higher than that for AmpliTaq (2.5%). The frequencies of chimeras and of heteroduplexes for Z-Taq were almost three times higher than those of AmpliTaq. The total PCR artifacts increased as PCR cycles and template concentrations increased and decreased as elongation time increased. Generally the frequency of chimeras was lower than that of mutations but higher than that of heteroduplexes. The total PCR artifacts as well as the frequency of heteroduplexes increased as the species diversity increased. PCR artifacts were significantly reduced by using AmpliTaq and fewer PCR cycles (fewer than 20 cycles), and the heteroduplexes could be effectively removed from PCR products prior to cloning by polyacrylamide gel purification or T7 endonuclease I digestion. Based upon these results, an optimal approach is proposed to minimize PCR artifacts in 16S rDNA-based microbial community studies.

The cis-regulatory dynamics of embryonic development at single-cell resolution

Understanding how gene regulatory networks control the progressive restriction of cell fates is a long-standing challenge. Recent advances in measuring single cell gene expression are providing new insights into lineage commitment. However, the regulatory events underlying these changes remain elusive. Here we investigate the dynamics of chromatin regulatory landscapes during embryogenesis at single cell resolution. Using single cell combinatorial indexing assay for transposase accessible chromatin (sci-ATAC-seq)1, we profiled chromatin accessibility in over 20,000 single nuclei from fixed Drosophila embryos spanning three landmark embryonic stages: 2-4 hours (hrs) after egg laying (predominantly stage 5 blastoderm nuclei), when each embryo comprises ~6,000 multipotent cells; 6-8hrs (predominantly stage 10-11), to capture a midpoint in embryonic development when major lineages in the mesoderm and ectoderm are specified; and 10-12hrs (predominantly stage 13), when each of the embryo’s >20,000 cells are undergoing terminal differentiation. Our results reveal spatial heterogeneity in the usage of the regulatory genome prior to gastrulation, a feature that aligns with future cell fate, and nuclei can be temporally ordered along developmental trajectories. During mid-embryogenesis, tissue granularity emerges such that individual cell types can be inferred by their chromatin accessibility, while maintaining a signature of their germ layer of origin. The data reveal overlapping usage of regulatory elements between cells of the endoderm and non-myogenic mesoderm, suggesting a common developmental program reminiscent of the mesendoderm lineage in other species2–4. Altogether, we identify over 30,000 distal regulatory elements exhibiting tissue-specific accessibility. We validated the germ layer specificity of a subset of these predicted enhancers in transgenic embryos, achieving 90% accuracy. Overall, our results demonstrate the power of shotgun single cell profiling of embryos to resolve dynamic changes in the chromatin landscape during development, and to uncover the cis-regulatory programs of metazoan germ layers and cell types.

IAM chromatography: an in vitro screen for predicting drug membrane permeability

Fluid cell membranes are the main barrier to drug absorption when diffusion limits uptake. Immobilized artificial membranes (IAMs) are solid phase models of fluid membranes that predicted oral drug absorption in mice for a homologous set of cephalosporins. IAMs also predicted drug permeability through Caco-2 cells. Since drug permeability in Caco-2 cells is known to correlate with the oral absorption of drugs in humans, IAMs may also model drug absorption in humans. IAM analysis is experimentally simple, and large-volume screening of experimental compounds for drug absorption is possible.

Simultaneous recovery of RNA and DNA from soils and sediments

Recovery of mRNA from environmental samples for measurement of in situ metabolic activities is a significant challenge. A robust, simple, rapid, and effective method was developed for simultaneous recovery of both RNA and DNA from soils of diverse composition by adapting our previous grinding-based cell lysis method (Zhou et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:316-322, 1996) for DNA extraction. One of the key differences is that the samples are ground in a denaturing solution at a temperature below 0 degrees C to inactivate nuclease activity. Two different methods were evaluated for separating RNA from DNA. Among the methods examined for RNA purification, anion exchange resin gave the best results in terms of RNA integrity, yield, and purity. With the optimized protocol, intact RNA and high-molecular-weight DNA were simultaneously recovered from 19 soil and stream sediment samples of diverse composition. The RNA yield from these samples ranged from 1.4 to 56 microg g of soil(-1) dry weight), whereas the DNA yield ranged from 23 to 435 microg g(-1). In addition, studies with the same soil sample showed that the DNA yield was, on average, 40% higher than that in our previous procedure and 68% higher than that in a commercial bead milling method. For the majority of the samples, the DNA and RNA recovered were of sufficient purity for nuclease digestion, microarray hybridization, and PCR or reverse transcription-PCR amplification.

Mapping transcriptomic vector fields of single cells

Single-cell (sc)-RNA-seq, together with RNA-velocity and metabolic labeling, reveals cellular states and transitions at unprecedented resolution. Fully exploiting these data, however, requires kinetic models capable of unveiling governing regulatory functions. Here, we introduce an analytical framework dynamo, that infers absolute RNA velocity, reconstructs continuous vector-field functions that predict cell fates, employs differential geometry to extract underlying regulations, and ultimately predicts optimal reprogramming paths and perturbation outcomes. We highlight dynamo’s power to overcome fundamental limitations of conventional splicing-based RNA velocity analyses to enable accurate velocity estimations on a metabolically-labeled human hematopoiesis scRNA-seq dataset. Furthermore, differential geometry analyses reveal mechanisms driving early megakaryocyte appearance and elucidate asymmetrical regulation within the PU.1–GATA1 circuit. Leveraging the Least-Action-Path method, dynamo accurately predicts drivers of numerous hematopoietic transitions. Finally, in silico perturbations predict cell-fate diversions induced by gene perturbations. Dynamo thus represents an important step in advancing quantitative and predictive theories of cell-state transitions.

Identification of a Delta 4 fatty acid desaturase from Thraustochytrium sp. involved in the biosynthesis of docosahexanoic acid by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Brassica juncea

The existence of Delta 4 fatty acid desaturation in the biosynthesis of docosahexanoic acid (DHA) has been questioned over the years. In this report we describe the identification from Thraustochytrium sp. of two cDNAs, Fad4 and Fad5, coding for Delta 4 and Delta 5 fatty acid desaturases, respectively. The Delta 4 desaturase, when expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, introduced a double bond at position 4 of 22:5(n-3) and 22:4(n-6) resulting in the production of DHA and docosapentanoic acid. The enzyme, when expressed in Brassica juncea under the control of a constitutive promoter, desaturated the exogenously supplied substrate 22:5(n-3), resulting in the production of DHA in vegetative tissues. These results support the notion that DHA can be synthesized via Delta 4 desaturation and suggest the possibility that DHA can be produced in oilseed crops on a large scale.

Quercetin is an effective inhibitor of quorum sensing, biofilm formation and virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

AIMS

The study aimed to perform a systematic investigation of the effects of quercetin on biofilm formation and virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Ps. aeruginosa strain PAO1 was selected as the test strain. The results indicated that quercetin did not impact the growth of PAO1 as determined by MIC and growth curve analysis. However, this compound significantly inhibited (P < 0·05) biofilm formation and production of virulence factors including pyocyanin, protease and elastase at a lower concentration than those for most previously reported plant extracts and substances. Considering the central role of quorum sensing (QS) in the regulation of biofilm and virulence factor, we further detected the transcriptional changes associated with QS and found that the expression levels of lasI, lasR, rhlI and rhlR were significantly reduced (P < 0·05) by 34, 68, 57 and 50%, respectively, in response to 16 μg ml(-1) quercetin.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated that quercetin is an effective inhibitor of biofilm formation and virulence factors in Ps. aeruginosa.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first study to demonstrate that quercetin is an effective inhibitor of QS, biofilm formation and virulence factors in Ps. aeruginosa. Furthermore, quercetin might have potential in fighting biofilm-related infections.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals receptor transformations during olfactory neurogenesis

The sense of smell allows chemicals to be perceived as diverse scents. We used single-neuron RNA sequencing to explore the developmental mechanisms that shape this ability as nasal olfactory neurons mature in mice. Most mature neurons expressed only one of the ~1000 odorant receptor genes (Olfrs) available, and at a high level. However, many immature neurons expressed low levels of multiple Olfrs. Coexpressed Olfrs localized to overlapping zones of the nasal epithelium, suggesting regional biases, but not to single genomic loci. A single immature neuron could express Olfrs from up to seven different chromosomes. The mature state in which expression of Olfr genes is restricted to one per neuron emerges over a developmental progression that appears to be independent of neuronal activity involving sensory transduction molecules.

Lineage tracing reveals the phylodynamics, plasticity, and paths of tumor evolution

Tumor evolution is driven by the progressive acquisition of genetic and epigenetic alterations that enable uncontrolled growth and expansion to neighboring and distal tissues. The study of phylogenetic relationships between cancer cells provides key insights into these processes. Here, we introduced an evolving lineage-tracing system with a single-cell RNA-seq readout into a mouse model of Kras;Trp53(KP)-driven lung adenocarcinoma and tracked tumor evolution from single-transformed cells to metastatic tumors at unprecedented resolution. We found that the loss of the initial, stable alveolar-type2-like state was accompanied by a transient increase in plasticity. This was followed by the adoption of distinct transcriptional programs that enable rapid expansion and, ultimately, clonal sweep of stable subclones capable of metastasizing. Finally, tumors develop through stereotypical evolutionary trajectories, and perturbing additional tumor suppressors accelerates progression by creating novel trajectories. Our study elucidates the hierarchical nature of tumor evolution and, more broadly, enables in-depth studies of tumor progression.

Membrane partition coefficients chromatographically measured using immobilized artificial membrane surfaces

Immobilized artificial membranes (IAMs) are chromatographic surfaces prepared by covalently immobilizing cell membrane phospholipids. IAM surfaces mimic fluid cell membranes. Solute capacity factors (k'IAM) measured on IAM columns correlate very well with solute equilibrium partition coefficients (Km') measured in fluid liposome systems. For 23 structurally unrelated compounds, log-(k'IAM) correlates with log(Km') with a linear correlation coefficient r = 0.907. This indicates that solute partitioning between the IAM bonded phase and the aqueous mobile phase is similar to the solute partitioning between liposomes and the aqueous phase. Although both IAM chromatography and liposome partitioning can be used as in vitro methods to predict solute partitioning into cell membranes, IAM chromatography is experimentally convenient compared to liposome systems. To study the effect of lipid structure on drug binding to IAMs, IAMs were prepared from three different phosphatidylcholine ligands: (i) a diacylated phosphatidylcholine ligand, (ii) a single chain ether phosphatidylcholine ligand, and (iii) a single chain phosphatidylcholine ligand that lacks a glycerol backbone. Solute retention data were identical for all of these IAMs, and consequently, predictions of solute binding to fluid membranes were also identical. This indicates that the structure of the phosphatidylcholine ligand that is immobilized is not critical for the binding of solutes. Since the structure is not important, the binding of solutes to membranes is a bulk phase property, i.e., it is the interface created by the ligands that determines the solute binding properties, not the ligands themselves. Solute partitioning using octanol/water systems does not correlate with k'IAM unless a homologous series of hydrophobic solutes is being evaluated.

Evolution of an organophosphate-degrading enzyme: a comparison of natural and directed evolution

Organophosphate-degrading enzyme from Agrobacterium radiobacter P230 (OPDA) is a recently discovered enzyme that degrades a broad range of organophosphates. It is very similar to OPH first isolated from Pseudomonas diminuta MG. Despite a high level of sequence identity, OPH and OPDA exhibit different substrate specificities. We report here the structure of OPDA and identify regions of the protein that are likely to give it a preference for substrates that have shorter alkyl substituents. Directed evolution was used to evolve a series of OPH mutants that had activities similar to those of OPDA. Mutants were selected for on the basis of their ability to degrade a number of substrates. The mutations tended to cluster in particular regions of the protein and in most cases, these regions were where OPH and OPDA had significant differences in their sequences.

Unique fold and active site in cytomegalovirus protease

Human herpesviruses are responsible for a variety of diseases. They are divided into three subfamilies: alpha includes herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV); beta includes cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6); and gamma includes Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Each virus encodes a serine protease that is essential for its replication and is a potential target for therapeutic intervention. Human CMV is a ubiquitous opportunistic pathogen that can result in life-threatening infections in congenitally infected infants, immunocompromised individuals and immunosuppressed cancer or transplant patients. Here we report the crystal structure of human CMV protease at 2.5 angstroms resolution. The structure reveals a fold that has not been reported for any other serine protease, and an active site consisting of a novel catalytic triad in which the third member is a histidine instead of an aspartic acid, or possibly a catalytic tetrad consisting of a serine, two histidines and an aspartic acid. An unusual dimer interface that is important to the protease activity has also been identified.

Refined structures of beta-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III

beta-Ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III (FabH) is a condensing enzyme that plays central roles in fatty acid biosynthesis. Three-dimensional structures of E. coli FabH in the presence and absence of ligands have been refined to 1.46 A resolution. The structures of improved accuracy revealed detailed interactions involved in ligand binding. These structures also provided new insights into the FabH mechanism, e.g. the possible role of a water or hydroxyl anion in Cys112 deprotonation. A structure of the apo enzyme uncovered large conformational changes in the active site, exemplified by the disordering of four essential loops (84-86, 146-152, 185-217 and 305-307) and the movement of catalytic residues (Cys112 and His244). The disordering of the loops leads to greater than 50 % reduction in the FabH dimer interface, suggesting a dynamic nature for an unusually large portion of the dimer interface. The existence of a large solvent-accessible channel in the dimer interface as well as two cis-peptides (cis-Pro88 and cis-Phe308) in two of the disordered loops may explain the observed structural instabilities.

A pooled single-cell genetic screen identifies regulatory checkpoints in the continuum of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Integrating single-cell trajectory analysis with pooled genetic screening could reveal the genetic architecture that guides cellular decisions in development and disease. We applied this paradigm to probe the genetic circuitry that controls epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We used single-cell RNA sequencing to profile epithelial cells undergoing a spontaneous spatially determined EMT in the presence or absence of transforming growth factor-β. Pseudospatial trajectory analysis identified continuous waves of gene regulation as opposed to discrete 'partial' stages of EMT. KRAS was connected to the exit from the epithelial state and the acquisition of a fully mesenchymal phenotype. A pooled single-cell CRISPR-Cas9 screen identified EMT-associated receptors and transcription factors, including regulators of KRAS, whose loss impeded progress along the EMT. Inhibiting the KRAS effector MEK and its upstream activators EGFR and MET demonstrates that interruption of key signaling events reveals regulatory 'checkpoints' in the EMT continuum that mimic discrete stages, and reconciles opposing views of the program that controls EMT.