Seq-Well: portable, low-cost RNA sequencing of single cells at high throughput

Nat Methods. 2017 Apr;14(4):395-398. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.4179. Epub 2017 Feb 13.

Abstract

Single-cell RNA-seq can precisely resolve cellular states, but applying this method to low-input samples is challenging. Here, we present Seq-Well, a portable, low-cost platform for massively parallel single-cell RNA-seq. Barcoded mRNA capture beads and single cells are sealed in an array of subnanoliter wells using a semipermeable membrane, enabling efficient cell lysis and transcript capture. We use Seq-Well to profile thousands of primary human macrophages exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • HEK293 Cells
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / economics
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / instrumentation
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / physiology
  • Macrophages / microbiology
  • Macrophages / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / pathogenicity
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / economics
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / instrumentation
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / methods*
  • Single-Cell Analysis / economics
  • Single-Cell Analysis / instrumentation
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger