Enhancers are transcribed by RNA polymerase II (Pol II). In order to study the regulation of enhancer transcription and its function in target gene control, methods are required that track genome transcription with high precision in vivo. Here, we provide step-by-step guidance for performing native elongating transcript sequencing (NET-Seq) in mammalian cells. NET-Seq allows quantitative measurements of transcription genome-wide, including enhancer transcription, with single-nucleotide and DNA strand resolution. The approach consists of capturing and efficiently converting the 3'-ends of the nascent RNA into a sequencing library followed by next-generation sequencing and computational data analysis. The protocol includes quality control measurements to monitor the success of the main steps. Following this protocol, a NET-Seq library is obtained within 5 days.
Keywords: Enhancer; Genome-wide; Library preparation; NET-Seq; Nascent RNA; Next-generation sequencing; RNA polymerase II; Transcription; eRNA.
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.