Eberwine, J. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2018

Comprehensive catalog of dendritically localized mRNA isoforms from sub-cellular sequencing of single mouse neurons

RNA localization to neuronal dendrites is critical step for long-lasting synaptic potentiation, but there is little consensus regarding which RNAs are localized and the role of alternative isoforms in localization. Using independent RNA-sequencing from soma and dendrites of the same neuron, we deeply profiled the sub-cellular transcriptomes to assess the extent and variability of dendritic RNA localization in individual hippocampal neurons, including an assessment of differential localization of alternative 3UTR isoforms. We identified 2,225 dendritic RNAs, including 298 cases of 3UTR isoform-specific localization. We extensively analyzed the localized RNAs for potential localization motifs, finding that B1 and B2 SINE elements are up to 5.7 times more abundant in localized RNA 3UTRs than non-localized, and also functionally characterized the localized RNAs using protein structure analysis. Finally, we integrate our list of localized RNAs with the literature to provide a comprehensive list of known dendritically localized RNAs as a resource.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2017

The Human Cell Atlas

The recent advent of methods for high-throughput single-cell molecular profiling has catalyzed a growing sense in the scientific community that the time is ripe to complete the 150-year-old effort to identify all cell types in the human body, by undertaking a Human Cell Atlas Project as an international collaborative effort. The aim would be to define all human cell types in terms of distinctive molecular profiles (e.g., gene expression) and connect this information with classical cellular descriptions (e.g., location and morphology). A comprehensive reference map of the molecular state of cells in healthy human tissues would propel the systematic study of physiological states, developmental trajectories, regulatory circuitry and interactions of cells, as well as provide a framework for understanding cellular dysregulation in human disease. Here we describe the idea, its potential utility, early proofs-of-concept, and some design considerations for the Human Cell Atlas.

cell biology↗