1
|
Leonaviciene G, Mazutis L. RNA cytometry of single-cells using semi-permeable microcapsules. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 51:e2. [PMID: 36268865 PMCID: PMC9841424 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Analytical tools for gene expression profiling of individual cells are critical for studying complex biological systems. However, the techniques enabling rapid measurements of gene expression on thousands of single-cells are lacking. Here, we report a high-throughput RNA cytometry for digital profiling of single-cells isolated in liquid droplets enveloped by a thin semi-permeable membrane (microcapsules). Due to the selective permeability of the membrane, the desirable enzymes and reagents can be loaded, or replaced, in the microcapsule at any given step by simply changing the reaction buffer in which the microcapsules are dispersed. Therefore, complex molecular biology workflows can be readily adapted to conduct nucleic acid analysis on encapsulated mammalian cells, or other biological species. The microcapsules support sequential multi-step enzymatic reactions and remain intact under different biochemical conditions, freezing, thawing, and thermocycling. Combining microcapsules with conventional FACS provides a high-throughput approach for conducting RNA cytometry of individual cells based on their digital gene expression signature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Greta Leonaviciene
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Centre, Vilnius University, 7 Sauletekio av., Vilnius, LT-10257, Lithuania
| | - Linas Mazutis
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +370 5 2234356;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ma J, Tran G, Wan AMD, Young EWK, Kumacheva E, Iscove NN, Zandstra PW. Microdroplet-based one-step RT-PCR for ultrahigh throughput single-cell multiplex gene expression analysis and rare cell detection. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6777. [PMID: 33762663 PMCID: PMC7990930 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86087-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene expression analysis of individual cells enables characterization of heterogeneous and rare cell populations, yet widespread implementation of existing single-cell gene analysis techniques has been hindered due to limitations in scale, ease, and cost. Here, we present a novel microdroplet-based, one-step reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) platform and demonstrate the detection of three targets simultaneously in over 100,000 single cells in a single experiment with a rapid read-out. Our customized reagent cocktail incorporates the bacteriophage T7 gene 2.5 protein to overcome cell lysate-mediated inhibition and allows for one-step RT-PCR of single cells encapsulated in nanoliter droplets. Fluorescent signals indicative of gene expressions are analyzed using a probabilistic deconvolution method to account for ambient RNA and cell doublets and produce single-cell gene signature profiles, as well as predict cell frequencies within heterogeneous samples. We also developed a simulation model to guide experimental design and optimize the accuracy and precision of the assay. Using mixtures of in vitro transcripts and murine cell lines, we demonstrated the detection of single RNA molecules and rare cell populations at a frequency of 0.1%. This low cost, sensitive, and adaptable technique will provide an accessible platform for high throughput single-cell analysis and enable a wide range of research and clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Ma
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Gary Tran
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Alwin M D Wan
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Norman N Iscove
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Peter W Zandstra
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kasimatis KR, Sánchez-Ramírez S, Stevenson ZC. Sexual Dimorphism through the Lens of Genome Manipulation, Forward Genetics, and Spatiotemporal Sequencing. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:evaa243. [PMID: 33587127 PMCID: PMC7883666 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction often leads to selection that favors the evolution of sex-limited traits or sex-specific variation for shared traits. These sexual dimorphisms manifest due to sex-specific genetic architectures and sex-biased gene expression across development, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying these patterns are largely unknown. The first step is to understand how sexual dimorphisms arise across the genotype-phenotype-fitness map. The emergence of "4D genome technologies" allows for efficient, high-throughput, and cost-effective manipulation and observations of this process. Studies of sexual dimorphism will benefit from combining these technological advances (e.g., precision genome editing, inducible transgenic systems, and single-cell RNA sequencing) with clever experiments inspired by classic designs (e.g., bulked segregant analysis, experimental evolution, and pedigree tracing). This perspective poses a synthetic view of how manipulative approaches coupled with cutting-edge observational methods and evolutionary theory are poised to uncover the molecular genetic basis of sexual dimorphism with unprecedented resolution. We outline hypothesis-driven experimental paradigms for identifying genetic mechanisms of sexual dimorphism among tissues, across development, and over evolutionary time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katja R Kasimatis
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Ontario, USA
| | | | - Zachary C Stevenson
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Liu L, Dong X, Tu Y, Miao G, Zhang Z, Zhang L, Wei Z, Yu D, Qiu X. Methods and platforms for analysis of nucleic acids from single-cell based on microfluidics. MICROFLUIDICS AND NANOFLUIDICS 2021; 25:87. [PMID: 34580578 PMCID: PMC8457033 DOI: 10.1007/s10404-021-02485-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell nucleic acid analysis aims at discovering the genetic differences between individual cells which is well known as the cellular heterogeneity. This technology facilitates cancer diagnosis, stem cell research, immune system analysis, and other life science applications. The conventional platforms for single-cell nucleic acid analysis more rely on manual operation or bulky devices. Recently, the emerging microfluidic technology has provided a perfect platform for single-cell nucleic acid analysis with the characteristic of accurate and automatic single-cell manipulation. In this review, we briefly summarized the procedure of single-cell nucleic acid analysis including single-cell isolation, single-cell lysis, nucleic acid amplification, and genetic analysis. And then, three representative microfluidic platforms for single-cell nucleic acid analysis are concluded as valve-, microwell-, and droplet-based platforms. Furthermore, we described the state-of-the-art integrated single-cell nucleic acid analysis systems based on the three platforms. Finally, the future development and challenges of microfluidics-based single-cell nucleic acid analysis are discussed as well.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luyao Liu
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Xiaobin Dong
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Yunping Tu
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Guijun Miao
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Zhongping Zhang
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Lulu Zhang
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Zewen Wei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Duli Yu
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Xianbo Qiu
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fung CW, Chan SN, Wu AR. Microfluidic single-cell analysis-Toward integration and total on-chip analysis. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2020; 14:021502. [PMID: 32161631 PMCID: PMC7060088 DOI: 10.1063/1.5131795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Various types of single-cell analyses are now extensively used to answer many biological questions, and with this growth in popularity, potential drawbacks to these methods are also becoming apparent. Depending on the specific application, workflows can be laborious, low throughput, and run the risk of contamination. Microfluidic designs, with their advantages of being high throughput, low in reaction volume, and compatible with bio-inert materials, have been widely used to improve single-cell workflows in all major stages of single-cell applications, from cell sorting to lysis, to sample processing and readout. Yet, designing an integrated microfluidic chip that encompasses the entire single-cell workflow from start to finish remains challenging. In this article, we review the current microfluidic approaches that cover different stages of processing in single-cell analysis and discuss the prospects and challenges of achieving a full integrated workflow to achieve total single-cell analysis in one device.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheuk Wang Fung
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shek Nga Chan
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Angela Ruohao Wu
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel.: +852 3469-2577
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chintapula U, M Iqbal S, Kim YT. A compendium of single cell analysis in aging and disease. AIMS MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.3934/molsci.2020004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
|
7
|
Affiliation(s)
- Pieter E. Oomen
- University of Gothenburg, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
| | - Mohaddeseh A. Aref
- University of Gothenburg, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
| | - Ibrahim Kaya
- University of Gothenburg, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal Hospital, House V3, 43180 Mölndal, Sweden
- The Gothenburg Imaging Mass Spectrometry (Go:IMS) Laboratory, University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
| | - Nhu T. N. Phan
- University of Gothenburg, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
- The Gothenburg Imaging Mass Spectrometry (Go:IMS) Laboratory, University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
- University of Göttingen Medical Center, Institute of Neuro- and Sensory Physiology, Göttingen 37073, Germany
| | - Andrew G. Ewing
- University of Gothenburg, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
- The Gothenburg Imaging Mass Spectrometry (Go:IMS) Laboratory, University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|