Description

Fluorescent photo-cleavable DNA molecules that incorporate into cell membranes, in combination with patterned light, can help determine the role of cellular spatial organization in development, cancer progression, and aging.

Mapping the spatial determinants involved in biological processes, such as gene regulation, has been difficult. Therefore, we developed STAMP-seq (Spatial Transcriptomic And Multiomic Profiling by sequencing), an approach that employs fluorescent photo-cleavable DNA molecules that incorporate into cell membranes, enabling us to “stamp” the position of cells using patterned light. By quantifying the extent of DNA cleavage, which is proportional to light exposure, together with mRNA from the same cell, enables spatially-resolved single-cell transcriptomics.

Image: composite overlapping fluorescence from 'inner' DNA sequences (blue) and 'outer' DNA sequences (red) of live epithelial cell membranes post illumination with a gradient photo-mask.