Simultaneous Multiplexed Measurement of RNA and Proteins in Single Cells.

Darmanis S, Gallant CJ, Marinescu VD, Niklasson M, Segerman A, Flamourakis G, Fredriksson S, Assarsson E, Lundberg M, Nelander S, Westermark B, Landegren U

Cell Reports 14 (2) 380-389 [2016-01-12; online 2015-12-31]

Significant advances have been made in methods to analyze genomes and transcriptomes of single cells, but to fully define cell states, proteins must also be accessed as central actors defining a cell's phenotype. Methods currently used to analyze endogenous protein expression in single cells are limited in specificity, throughput, or multiplex capability. Here, we present an approach to simultaneously and specifically interrogate large sets of protein and RNA targets in lysates from individual cells, enabling investigations of cell functions and responses. We applied our method to investigate the effects of BMP4, an experimental therapeutic agent, on early-passage glioblastoma cell cultures. We uncovered significant heterogeneity in responses to treatment at levels of RNA and protein, with a subset of cells reacting in a distinct manner to BMP4. Moreover, we found overall poor correlation between protein and RNA at the level of single cells, with proteins more accurately defining responses to treatment.

Affiliated researcher

PubMed 26748716

DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.12.021

Crossref 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.12.021

pii: S2211-1247(15)01434-5
pmc: PMC4713867


Publications 9.5.1