Spatially resolved, highly multiplexed RNA profiling in single cells

TLDR

Multiplexed RNA imaging in single cells reveals where, when, and how much proteins are expressed, but traditional smFISH is limited to a few RNA species. Chen et al. employed combinatorial labeling with error‑robust encoding schemes to enable highly multiplexed RNA imaging. The approach simultaneously images 100–1,000 RNA species per cell, enabling transcriptome‑scale analysis of regulatory interactions.

Abstract

Multiplexed RNA imaging in single cells The basis of cellular function is where and when proteins are expressed and in what quantities. Single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) experiments quantify the copy number and location of mRNA molecules; however, the numbers of RNA species that can be simultaneously measured by smFISH has been limited. Using combinatorial labeling with error-robust encoding schemes, Chen et al. simultaneously imaged 100 to 1000 RNA species in a single cell. Such large-scale detection allows regulatory interactions to be analyzed at the transcriptome scale. Science , this issue p. 10.1126/science.aaa6090