Single-cell full-length total RNA sequencing uncovers dynamics of recursive splicing and enhancer RNAs

Nat Commun. 2018 Feb 12;9(1):619. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-02866-0.

Abstract

Total RNA sequencing has been used to reveal poly(A) and non-poly(A) RNA expression, RNA processing and enhancer activity. To date, no method for full-length total RNA sequencing of single cells has been developed despite the potential of this technology for single-cell biology. Here we describe random displacement amplification sequencing (RamDA-seq), the first full-length total RNA-sequencing method for single cells. Compared with other methods, RamDA-seq shows high sensitivity to non-poly(A) RNA and near-complete full-length transcript coverage. Using RamDA-seq with differentiation time course samples of mouse embryonic stem cells, we reveal hundreds of dynamically regulated non-poly(A) transcripts, including histone transcripts and long noncoding RNA Neat1. Moreover, RamDA-seq profiles recursive splicing in >300-kb introns. RamDA-seq also detects enhancer RNAs and their cell type-specific activity in single cells. Taken together, we demonstrate that RamDA-seq could help investigate the dynamics of gene expression, RNA-processing events and transcriptional regulation in single cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic
  • Exons
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods*
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Introns
  • Mice
  • Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • RNA Splicing*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods*
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Histones
  • NEAT1 long non-coding RNA, mouse
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Messenger