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Andersson D, Kebede FT, Escobar M, Österlund T, Ståhlberg A. Principles of digital sequencing using unique molecular identifiers. Mol Aspects Med 2024; 96:101253. [PMID: 38367531 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2024.101253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Massively parallel sequencing technologies have long been used in both basic research and clinical routine. The recent introduction of digital sequencing has made previously challenging applications possible by significantly improving sensitivity and specificity to now allow detection of rare sequence variants, even at single molecule level. Digital sequencing utilizes unique molecular identifiers (UMIs) to minimize sequencing-induced errors and quantification biases. Here, we discuss the principles of UMIs and how they are used in digital sequencing. We outline the properties of different UMI types and the consequences of various UMI approaches in relation to experimental protocols and bioinformatics. Finally, we describe how digital sequencing can be applied in specific research fields, focusing on cancer management where it can be used in screening of asymptomatic individuals, diagnosis, treatment prediction, prognostication, monitoring treatment efficacy and early detection of treatment resistance as well as relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Andersson
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 90, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Firaol Tamiru Kebede
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 90, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mandy Escobar
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 90, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tobias Österlund
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 90, Gothenburg, Sweden; Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 413 90, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anders Ståhlberg
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 90, Gothenburg, Sweden; Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 413 90, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Sun J, Philpott M, Loi D, Li S, Monteagudo-Mesas P, Hoffman G, Robson J, Mehta N, Gamble V, Brown T, Brown T, Canzar S, Oppermann U, Cribbs AP. Correcting PCR amplification errors in unique molecular identifiers to generate accurate numbers of sequencing molecules. Nat Methods 2024; 21:401-405. [PMID: 38317008 PMCID: PMC10927542 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02168-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Unique molecular identifiers are random oligonucleotide sequences that remove PCR amplification biases. However, the impact that PCR associated sequencing errors have on the accuracy of generating absolute counts of RNA molecules is underappreciated. We show that PCR errors are a source of inaccuracy in both bulk and single-cell sequencing data, and synthesizing unique molecular identifiers using homotrimeric nucleotide blocks provides an error-correcting solution that allows absolute counting of sequenced molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Sun
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, National Institute of Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Unit (BRU), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Martin Philpott
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, National Institute of Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Unit (BRU), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Danson Loi
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, National Institute of Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Unit (BRU), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shuang Li
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Gabriela Hoffman
- ATDBio Ltd (now part of Biotage), Magdalen Centre, Oxford Science Park, Oxford, UK
| | - Jonathan Robson
- ATDBio Ltd (now part of Biotage), Magdalen Centre, Oxford Science Park, Oxford, UK
| | - Neelam Mehta
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, National Institute of Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Unit (BRU), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vicki Gamble
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, National Institute of Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Unit (BRU), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tom Brown
- ATDBio Ltd (now part of Biotage), Magdalen Centre, Oxford Science Park, Oxford, UK
| | - Tom Brown
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stefan Canzar
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Udo Oppermann
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, National Institute of Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Unit (BRU), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Centre for Translational Myeloma Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Adam P Cribbs
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, National Institute of Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Unit (BRU), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Oxford Centre for Translational Myeloma Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Maes S, Deploey N, Peelman F, Eyckerman S. Deep mutational scanning of proteins in mammalian cells. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100641. [PMID: 37963462 PMCID: PMC10694495 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Protein mutagenesis is essential for unveiling the molecular mechanisms underlying protein function in health, disease, and evolution. In the past decade, deep mutational scanning methods have evolved to support the functional analysis of nearly all possible single-amino acid changes in a protein of interest. While historically these methods were developed in lower organisms such as E. coli and yeast, recent technological advancements have resulted in the increased use of mammalian cells, particularly for studying proteins involved in human disease. These advancements will aid significantly in the classification and interpretation of variants of unknown significance, which are being discovered at large scale due to the current surge in the use of whole-genome sequencing in clinical contexts. Here, we explore the experimental aspects of deep mutational scanning studies in mammalian cells and report the different methods used in each step of the workflow, ultimately providing a useful guide toward the design of such studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Maes
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology (CMB), Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nick Deploey
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology (CMB), Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Frank Peelman
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology (CMB), Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sven Eyckerman
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology (CMB), Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
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