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At least 37 records · Page 2

Evaluating inkjet dispenser/liquid vortex capture-mass spectrometry for single-cell metabolomics in Hep G2 steatosis caused by tamoxifen

Single-cell mass spectrometry (MS) is advancing our understanding of metabolic pathways in heterogeneous cell populations; however, many techniques are slow or require disruptive sample preparations. This study evaluated coupling a modified HP D100 single-cell inkjet dispenser with liquid vortex capture-mass spectrometry (D100/LVC-MS). The D100 is a single-cell inkjet dispenser capable of titrating solutions and isolating single cells via disposable cassettes equipped with microfluidic channels and an impedance sensor. The LVC-MS enables high-throughput capture, lysis, and ionization of analytes for mass spectrometric analysis. The D100/LVC-MS system was characterized through titration and single-cell experiments. Propranolol titration demonstrated linearity across a broad concentration range using the D100/LVC-MS system. Additionally, Hep G2 hepatocarcinoma cells and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii algae were used to showcase the D100’s high-throughput or low-buffer-volume single-cell dispensing strategies. The D100/LVC-MS system’s performance was validated by evaluating tamoxifen-induced steatosis in Hep G2 cells. Tamoxifen, associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in breast cancer patients following long-term use, was tested in Hep G2 cells at 20 µM for 72 h against DMSO-treated controls. High-throughput analysis of 500 cells per condition, completed in 25 min per run, demonstrated the system’s efficiency. The D100/LVC-MS system simultaneously quantified tamoxifen and measured triglycerides and phosphatidylcholines. Triglycerides were upregulated in the tamoxifen-treated cells and the results indicated two distinct cell populations, differing in tamoxifen and phosphatidylcholines levels, suggesting heterogeneity within the treated population. In conclusion, these findings highlight the D100/LVC-MS system as a cost-effective, high-throughput platform for single-cell metabolomics and lipidomics, with significant potential for evaluating metabolic alterations.

Chromatography↗

Robust surfactant-assisted one-pot sample preparation for label-free single-cell and nanoscale proteomics

With advanced mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics, genome-scale proteome coverage can be achieved from bulk cells. However, such bulk measurement obscures cell to cell heterogeneity, precluding proteome profiling of single cells and small numbers of cells of interest. To address this issue, in recent 5 years there are a surge of small sample preparation methods developed for robust effective collection and processing of single cells and small numbers of cells for in-depth MS-based proteome profiling. Based on their broad accessibility, they can be categorized into two types: specific device- and standard PCR tube- or multi-well plate-based methods. Herein we describe the detailed protocol of our recently developed, easily adoptable, Surfactant-assisted One-Pot (SOP) sample preparation coupled with MS method termed SOP-MS for label-free single-cell and nanoscale proteomics. SOP-MS capitalizes on the combination of a MS-compatible surfactant, DDM (n-Dodecyl-ß-D-maltoside), and standard low-bind PCR tube or multi-well plate for ‘all-in-one’ one-pot sample preparation without sample transfer. With its robust and convenient features, SOP-MS can be readily implemented in any MS laboratory for single-cell and nanoscale proteomics. With further improvements in MS detection sensitivity and sample throughput, we believe that SOP-MS could open an avenue for single-cell proteomics with broad applicability in the biological and biomedical research.

Single-cell proteomics, nanoscale proteomics, SOP-↗

National Cancer Institute Think-Tank Meeting Report on Proteomic Cartography and Biomarkers at the Single-Cell Level: Interrogation of Premalignant Lesions

A Think-Tank Meeting was convened by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to solicit experts’ opinion on the development and application of multi-omic single-cell analyses, and especially single-cell proteomics, to improve the development of a new generation of biomarkers for cancer risk, early detection, diagnosis, prognosis as well as to discuss the discovery of new targets for prevention and therapy. It is anticipated that such markers and targets will be based on cellular, subcellular, molecular and functional aberrations within the lesion and within individual cells. Additionally, single-cell proteomic data will be essential for the establishment of new tools that with searchable and scalable features that include spatial and temporal cartographies of premalignant and malignant lesions. Challenges and potential solutions that were discussed included: • The best way/s to analyze single-cells from fresh and preserved tissue • Detection and analysis of secreted molecules and from single cells, especially from a tissue slice • Detection of new, previously undocumented cell type/s in the premalignant and early stage cancer tissue microenvironment • Multi-omic integration of data to support and inform proteomic measurements • Subcellular organelles – identifying abnormal structure, function, distribution and location within individual premalignant and malignant cells • How to improve the dynamic range of single-cell proteomic measurements for discovery of differentially expressed proteins and their post translational modifications (PTM) • The depth of coverage measured concurrently using single-cell techniques • Quantitation - absolute or semiquantitative? • Single methodology or multiplexed combinations? • Application of analytical methods for identification of biologically significant subsets • Data visualization of N-dimensional datasets • How to construct intercellular signaling networks in individual cells within premalignant tumor microenvironments (TME) • Associations between intrinsic cellular processes and extrinsic stimuli • How to predict cellular responses to stress inducing stimuli • Identification of new markers for prediction of progression from precursor, benign and localized lesions to invasive cancer, based on spatial and temporal changes within individual cells • Identification of new targets for immunoprevention or immunotherapy – identification of neoantigens and surfactome of individual cells within a lesion

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Single-cell and spatial omics in plants: from cellular atlases to regulatory mechanisms

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has transformed transcriptomic studies by enabling gene expression profiling at the resolution of individual cells within and across a broad range of tissue types, revealing cellular heterogeneity that is obscured in bulk tissue transcriptomes. Over the past decade, improvements in microfluidics and library preparation have drastically increased throughput, allowing tens of thousands of cells to be assayed in a single experiment. Although initially developed in animal systems, scRNA-seq has rapidly emerged as a powerful and widely adopted approach in plant biology. Beyond transcriptomics, the integration of single-cell data with chromatin accessibility, proteomics, metabolomics, and spatial omics is enabling a system-level understanding of plant gene regulation and cellular organization. Network-based analytical frameworks further support the reconstruction of gene regulatory networks and the interpretation of complex single-cell data. In this review, we summarize the current technological landscape of plant single-cell studies, discuss key experimental and analytical challenges, and review emerging strategies for validating single-cell discoveries. We also discuss future directions in applying single-cell technologies to woody perennials plants and bioenergy-relevant crops, emphasizing their potential to accelerate the discovery of cell type-specific regulatory mechanisms underlying growth, stress resilience, and biomass production.

Li, Miaomiao [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000321326168)↗

scifi-ATAC-seq: massive-scale single-cell chromatin accessibility sequencing using combinatorial fluidic indexing

Abstract Single-cell ATAC-seq has emerged as a powerful approach for revealing candidate cis-regulatory elements genome-wide at cell-type resolution. However, current single-cell methods suffer from limited throughput and high costs. Here, we present a novel technique called scifi-ATAC-seq, single-cell combinatorial fluidic indexing ATAC-sequencing, which combines a barcoded Tn5 pre-indexing step with droplet-based single-cell ATAC-seq using the 10X Genomics platform. With scifi-ATAC-seq, up to 200,000 nuclei across multiple samples can be indexed in a single emulsion reaction, representing an approximately 20-fold increase in throughput compared to the standard 10X Genomics workflow.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Optical Microscopy-Guided Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry: Ambient Single Cell Metabolomics with Increased Confidence in Molecular Identification

Single cell analysis is a field of increasing interest as new tools are continually being developed to understand intercellular differences within large cell populations. Laser-ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LAESI-MS) is an emerging technique for single cell metabolomics. Over the years, it has been validated that this ionization technique is advantageous for probing the molecular content of individual cells in situ. Here, we report the integration of a microscope into the optical train of the LAESI source to allow for visually informed ambient in situ single cell analysis. Additionally, we have coupled this ‘LAESI microscope’ to a drift-tube ion mobility mass spectrometer to enable separation of isobaric species and allow for the determination of ion collision cross sections in conjunction with accurate mass measurements. This combined information helps provide higher confidence for structural assignment of molecules ablated from single cells. Here, we show that this system enables the analysis of the metabolite content of Allium cepa epidermal cells with high confidence structural identification together with their spatial locations within a tissue.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Single‐Cell Nanodroplet Processing Proteomics Pipeline for Analysis of Human‐Derived Microglia

Single-cell omics tools provide unique insights into heterogeneous cell populations and their responses to stimuli. For example, single-cell RNA sequencing has identified several transcriptionally distinct populations of microglia, which are resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that are responsive to CNS injury, infection, and neurodegeneration. To date, single-cell studies of microglia have focused on RNA-sequencing or cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF), which provide indirect readouts of protein abundance or quantification of a limited number of targets. Herein, we present a workflow based on FACS-assisted isolation, cryopreservation, and nanodroplet-based processing for single-cell mass spectrometry proteomics analysis of the postmortem human brain cortex-derived microglia. From a single microglial cell, 1039 proteins could be identified on average. As a proof-of-principle, we applied single-cell proteomics for exploring the heterogeneity of brain microglia at the cellular level. This pilot proteomics data partially recapitulates the prior microglia subtypes. Specifically, we determined that mitochondrial proteins, in particular members of NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I), cytochrome b-c1 (Complex III), cytochrome c oxidase (Complex IV), F1-ATPase (Complex V), and Na+/K+-ATPase complex, drive variation across microglia. This pipeline offers the potential for identifying functionally and analytically relevant protein targets for microglia in Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

High-throughput Single-Cell Proteomics and Transcriptomics from the Same Cells with a Nanoliter-Scale Spin-Transfer Approach

Single-cell multiomic platforms provide a comprehensive snapshot of cellular states and cell types by offering critical insights into the spatiotemporal regulation of biomolecular networks at a systems level, thereby defining the basis of multicellularity. Here, we introduce nanoSPINS, an advanced platform that enables high-throughput profiling and integrative analysis of the transcriptome and proteome from the same single cells using RNA sequencing and isobaric labeling LC-MS-based proteomics, respectively. NanoSPINS can efficiently transfer mRNA-containing droplets across two microarrays via a centrifugation-based approach, while proteins are retained on the initial platform. Benchmarking of nanoSPINS on two cell lines demonstrates its ability to generate global proteomic and transcriptomic profiles that align well with previously established methodologies/platforms. The incorporation of isobaric TMTpro labeling into this single-cell multiomics platform significantly enhances the throughput of single-cell proteomic analyses. Through the high-throughput quantification of the proteome and transcriptome, nanoSPINS not only facilitates the identification of molecular features at both mRNA and protein level but also provides larger sample sizes for improved statistical power in clustering and differential abundance. Given the broad applicability of single-cell multiomics in biological research and clinical settings, we believe nanoSPINS represents a powerful platform for the characterization of heterogeneous cell populations.

multi 'omics↗

Advances in mass spectrometry-enabled multiomics at single-cell resolution

We report biological organisms are multifaceted, intricate systems where slight perturbations can result in extensive changes in gene expression, protein abundance and/or activity, and metabolic flux. These changes occur at different timescales, spatially across cells of heterogeneous origins, and within single-cells. Hence, multimodal measurements at the smallest biological scales are necessary to capture dynamic changes in heterogeneous biological systems. Of the analytical techniques used to measure biomolecules, mass spectrometry (MS) has proven to be a powerful option due to its sensitivity, robustness, and flexibility with regard to the breadth of biomolecules that can be analyzed. Recently, many studies have coupled MS to other analytical techniques with the goal of measuring multiple modalities from the same single-cell. It is with these concepts in mind that we focus this review on MS-enabled multiomic measurements at single-cell or near-single- cell resolution.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

High-throughput and high-efficiency sample preparation for single-cell proteomics using a nested nanowell chip

Abstract Global quantification of protein abundances in single cells could provide direct information on cellular phenotypes and complement transcriptomics measurements. However, single-cell proteomics is still immature and confronts many technical challenges. Herein we describe a nested nanoPOTS (N2) chip to improve protein recovery, operation robustness, and processing throughput for isobaric-labeling-based scProteomics workflow. The N2 chip reduces reaction volume to <30 nL and increases capacity to >240 single cells on a single microchip. The tandem mass tag (TMT) pooling step is simplified by adding a microliter droplet on the nested nanowells to combine labeled single-cell samples. In the analysis of ~100 individual cells from three different cell lines, we demonstrate that the N2 chip-based scProteomics platform can robustly quantify ~1500 proteins and reveal membrane protein markers. Our analyses also reveal low protein abundance variations, suggesting the single-cell proteome profiles are highly stable for the cells cultured under identical conditions.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Evaluating Linear Ion Trap for MS3-Based Multiplexed Single-Cell Proteomics

There is a growing demand to develop high-throughput and high-sensitivity mass spectrometry methods for single-cell proteomics. The commonly used isobaric labeling-based multiplexed single-cell proteomics approach suffers from distorted protein quantification due to co-isolated interfering ions during MS/MS fragmentation, also known as ratio compression. We reasoned that the use of MS3-based quantification could mitigate ratio compression and provide better quantification. However, previous studies indicated reduced proteome coverages in the MS3 method, likely due to long duty cycle time and ion losses during multilevel ion selection and fragmentation. Here, in this paper, we described an improved MS acquisition method for MS3-based single-cell proteomics by employing a linear ion trap to measure reporter ions. We demonstrated that linear ion trap can increase the proteome coverages for single-cell-level peptides with even higher gain obtained via the MS3 method. The optimized real-time search MS3 method was further applied to study the immune activation of single macrophages. Among a total of 126 single cells studied, over 1200 and 1000 proteins were quantifiable when at least 50 and 75% nonmissing data were required, respectively. Our evaluation also revealed several limitations of the low-resolution ion trap detector for multiplexed single-cell proteomics and suggested experimental solutions to minimize their impacts on single-cell analysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Sample Preparation Methods for Targeted Single-Cell Proteomics

We compared three cell isolation and two proteomic sample preparation methods for single-cell and near-single-cell analysis. Whole blood was used to quantify hemoglobin (Hb) and glycated-Hb (gly-Hb) in erythrocytes using targeted mass spectrometry and stable isotope-labeled standard peptides. Each method differed in cell isolation and sample preparation as follows: 1) FACS and automated preparation in one-pot for trace samples (autoPOTS); 2) limited dilution via microscopy and a novel rapid one-pot sample preparation method that circumvented the need for the solid-phase extraction, low-volume liquid handling instrumentation and humidified incubation chamber; and 3) CellenONE-based cell isolation and the same one-pot sample preparation method used for limited dilution. Only the CellenONE device routinely isolated single-cells from which Hb was measured to be 540–660 amol per red blood cell (RBC), which was comparable to the calculated SI reference range for mean corpuscular hemoglobin (390–540 amol/RBC). FACSAria sorter and limited dilution could routinely isolate single-digit cell numbers, to reliably quantify CMV-Hb heterogeneity. Finally, we observed that repeated measures, using 5–25 RBCs obtained from N = 10 blood donors, could be used as an alternative and more efficient strategy than single RBC analysis to measure protein heterogeneity, which revealed multimodal distribution, unique for each individual.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

An Improved Boosting to Amplify Signal with Isobaric Labeling (iBASIL) Strategy for Precise Quantitative Single-cell Proteomics

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics has great potential for overcoming the limitations of antibody-based immunoassays for antibody-independent, comprehensive, and quantitative proteomic analysis of single cells. Indeed, recent advances in nanoscale sample preparation have enabled effective processing of single cells. In particular, the concept of using boosting/carrier channels in isobaric labeling to increase the sensitivity in MS detection has also been increasingly used for quantitative proteomic analysis of small-sized samples including single cells. However, the full potential of such boosting/carrier approaches has not been significantly explored, nor has the resulting quantitation quality been carefully evaluated. Herein, we have further evaluated and optimized our recent boosting to amplify signal with isobaric labeling (BASIL) approach, originally developed for quantifying phosphorylation in small number of cells, for highly effective analysis of proteins in single cells. This improved BASIL (iBASIL) approach enables reliable quantitative single-cell proteomics analysis with greater proteome coverage by carefully controlling the boosting-to-sample ratio (e.g. in general <100×) and optimizing MS automatic gain control (AGC) and ion injection time settings in MS/MS analysis (e.g. 5E5 and 300 ms, respectively, which is significantly higher than that used in typical bulk analysis). By coupling with a nanodroplet-based single cell preparation (nanoPOTS) platform, iBASIL enabled identification of ~2500 proteins and precise quantification of ~1500 proteins in the analysis of 104 FACS-isolated single cells, with the resulting protein profiles robustly clustering the cells from three different acute myeloid leukemia cell lines. This study highlights the importance of carefully evaluating and optimizing the boosting ratios and MS data acquisition conditions for achieving robust, comprehensive proteomic analysis of single cells.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Single-cell proteomics of Arabidopsis leaf mesophyll reveals dynamic protein responses to water-deficit stress

Background The application of single-cell omics tools to biological systems can provide unique insights into diverse cellular populations and their heterogeneous responses to internal and external perturbations. Thus far, most single-cell studies in plant systems have been limited to RNA-sequencing approaches, which only provide indirect readouts of cellular functions. Results Here, we present a single-cell proteomics workflow for plant cells that integrates tape-sandwich protoplasting, piezoelectric cell sorting, nanoPOTS sample preparation, and ion mobility-based MS data acquisition method for label-free single-cell proteomics analysis of Arabidopsis leaf mesophyll cells. From a single leaf protoplast, over 3,000 proteins were quantified with high precision. The workflow is demonstrated to identify stress associated changes in protein abundance by analyzing 117 protoplasts from well-watered and water-deficit stressed plants. Additionally, we describe a new approach for constructing covarying protein networks at the single-cell level and demonstrate how single-cell protein covariation analysis can reveal previously unrecognized protein functions while also capturing stress-induced changes in protein–protein dynamics. Conclusions The label-free scProteomic approach presented here represents a significant advance through the demonstration of a facile protoplast isolation method combined with deep and precise proteomic coverage of Arabidopsis leaf mesophyll cell types. We believe this study will serve as an informative reference to future plant scProteomic investigations.

Arabidopsis↗

Guided construction of single cell reference for human and mouse lung

Accurate cell type identification is a key and rate-limiting step in single-cell data analysis. Single-cell references with comprehensive cell types, reproducible and functionally validated cell identities, and common nomenclatures are much needed by the research community for automated cell type annotation, data integration, and data sharing. Here, we develop a computational pipeline utilizing the LungMAP CellCards as a dictionary to consolidate single-cell transcriptomic datasets of 104 human lungs and 17 mouse lung samples to construct LungMAP single-cell reference (CellRef) for both normal human and mouse lungs. CellRefs define 48 human and 40 mouse lung cell types catalogued from diverse anatomic locations and developmental time points. We demonstrate the accuracy and stability of LungMAP CellRefs and their utility for automated cell type annotation of both normal and diseased lungs using multiple independent methods and testing data. We develop user-friendly web interfaces for easy access and maximal utilization of the LungMAP CellRefs.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

sciCAN: single-cell chromatin accessibility and gene expression data integration via cycle-consistent adversarial network

The boom in single-cell technologies has brought a surge of high dimensional data that come from different sources and represent cellular systems from different views. With advances in these single-cell technologies, integrating single-cell data across modalities arises as a new computational challenge. Here, we present an adversarial approach, sciCAN, to integrate single-cell chromatin accessibility and gene expression data in an unsupervised manner. We benchmarked sciCAN with 5 existing methods in 5 scATAC-seq/scRNA-seq datasets, and we demonstrated that our method dealt with data integration with consistent performance across datasets and better balance of mutual transferring between modalities than the other 5 existing methods. We further applied sciCAN to 10X Multiome data and confirmed that the integrated representation preserves biological relationships within the hematopoietic hierarchy. Finally, we investigated CRISPR-perturbed single-cell K562 ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data to identify cells with related responses to different perturbations in these different modalities.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

High throughput single cell multiomics platform [Abstract]

In this collaborative project, PNNL and Scienion will co-develop an integrated microfluidic technology to co-measure the transcriptome and proteome in single cells. The technology will enable us to efficiently separate proteins from mRNA transcripts between two microchips, barcode the molecules, and measure them separately with next-generation sequencing and mass spectrometry, respectively. Multicellular organisms contain diverse cell types and tremendous cell-to-cell heterogeneity that dictates a multitude of biological functions in both physiological and pathological environments. Even in the case of microbes, these genetically identical organisms can randomly differentiate into many subpopulations that assume different roles for the survival of the community. Bulk-scale measurements are insufficient to resolve such complexities. The development and applications of high throughput single-cell omics technologies have transformed our understanding of cellular heterogeneities and their differential responses to internal signaling events or external stimulations. Despite these advances, most current single-cell omic technologies provide information on only one type of biomolecule. Perse, such measurements provide incomplete information because the cell phenotype is determined by multiple layers of biomolecules and the interplay between genome, epigenome, transcriptome, and proteome. For example, mRNA abundance in one cell can not be precisely referred to the corresponding DNA and protein in other cells because of the potential subtle difference in genotype (e.g., somatic mutation or copy number variation) or phenotype (external microenvironment and cell-cell interactions). As such, parallel measurement of multiple biomolecules in the same single cells can offer unique advantages compared with measuring them separately in different single cells. Scienion is a world-leading biotech company focusing on precision liquid handling and its application in single-cell whole-genome sequencing and RNA sequencing. PNNL is the leading institution in ultrasensitive mass spectrometry, microfluidics, and untargeted single-cell proteomics (scProteomics). This collaboration will facilitate a unique fusion between scTranscriptomics capability at Scienion and scProteomics capabilities at PNNL to, for the first time, perform both untargeted transcriptomics and proteomics from the same single cells.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Molecular pathways for learning in the single-cell Stentor coeruleus

The single-cell Stentor coeruleus contracts in response to mechanical taps but habituates and learns to ignore the taps after repeated stimulation. Here, we explored the molecular changes that occur during the formation of this cellular memory in order to improve our understanding of non-synaptic learning. We impaired cellular protein synthesis with cycloheximide and puromycin and found that, contrary to the effects of such treatments on metazoa, these drugs accelerate habituation and prolong memory retention in Stentor . Exploratory proteomic and transcriptomic analyses identified candidate proteins and genes that changed over the course of habituation and response recovery, pointing toward the regulation of Stentor learning by calcium signaling and protein phosphorylation. Building on these results, we found that using RNA interference to knock down the calcium-binding, EF-hand domain-containing protein SteCoe_6763 accelerated habituation. Furthermore, increased extracellular calcium improved Stentor learning, while treatment with kinase and phosphatase inhibitors impaired learning. In particular, KN-93, a drug known to inhibit calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II and voltage-gated calcium channels, decreased both the rate and extent of habituation in Stentor , similar to its effects on learning in metazoa. We also discovered that habituation memory can be maintained in progeny following cell division. Taken together, these results suggest that response recovery in Stentor requires new protein synthesis and that memory formation involves the modification of delocalized mechanoreceptors by phosphorylation and calcium signaling. This is consistent with our previous model of Stentor learning, in which habituation occurs through the inactivation of cell-surface receptors.

CaMKII↗