Cited by 131Genomics and Chromatin DynamicsSingle-cell and spatial transcriptomicsGene Regulatory Network Analysis

Single-cell nascent RNA sequencing unveils coordinated global transcription

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Mahat, Dig B., Tippens, Nathaniel D., Martin-Rufino, Jorge D., Waterton, Sean K., Fu, Jiayu, Blatt, Sarah E., Sharp, Phillip A.·2024·Nature

Abstract

Abstract Transcription is the primary regulatory step in gene expression. Divergent transcription initiation from promoters and enhancers produces stable RNAs from genes and unstable RNAs from enhancers1,2. Nascent RNA capture and sequencing assays simultaneously measure gene and enhancer activity in cell populations3. However, fundamental questions about the temporal regulation of transcription and enhancer–gene coordination remain unanswered, primarily because of the absence of a single-cell perspective on active transcription. In this study, we present scGRO–seq—a new single-cell nascent RNA sequencing assay that uses click chemistry—and unveil coordinated transcription throughout the genome. We demonstrate the episodic nature of transcription and the co-transcription of functionally related genes. scGRO–seq can estimate burst size and frequency by directly quantifying transcribing RNA polymerases in individual cells and can leverage replication-dependent non-polyadenylated histone gene transcription to elucidate cell cycle dynamics. The single-nucleotide spatial and temporal resolution of scGRO–seq enables the identification of networks of enhancers and genes. Our results suggest that the bursting of transcription at super-enhancers precedes bursting from associated genes. By imparting insights into the dynamic nature of global transcription and the origin and propagation of transcription signals, we demonstrate the ability of scGRO–seq to investigate the mechanisms of transcription regulation and the role of enhancers in gene expression.

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Authors
Mahat, D. B., Tippens, N. D., Martin-Rufino, J. D., Waterton, S. K., Fu, J., Blatt, S. E., & Sharp, P. A.
Affiliations
  • Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research At MIT (US)
  • Broad Institute (US)
  • Northwestern University (US)
  • Exact Sciences (United States) (US)
Corresponding author
Sharp, Phillip A.
Venue
Nature
Published
2024-06-05
Volume
631
Issue
8019
Pages
216-223
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W4399366620
Cited by
131
References
69
Citations by year
2026: 64 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 15 · 2022: 1
FWCI
17.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Cancer Institute (P01CA042063, P30CA014051)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM034277)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
Keywords
nascent RNA sequencing, single-cell transcriptomics, transcription initiation, super-enhancers, transcriptional bursting, RNA polymerase activity, histone gene transcription, cell cycle kinetics, click chemistry, transcriptional regulation
MeSH terms
Single-Cell Gene Expression Analysis, Animals, Cell Cycle, Enhancer Elements, Genetic, Gene Expression Regulation, Histones, Humans, Promoter Regions, Genetic, RNA, DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases, Time Factors, Transcription, Genetic, Sequence Analysis, RNA, Mice, Click Chemistry

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