Improving the RNA velocity approach with single-cell RNA lifecycle (nascent, mature and degrading RNAs) sequencing technologies

Nucleic Acids Res. 2023 Dec 11;51(22):e112. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkad969.

Abstract

We presented an experimental method called FLOUR-seq, which combines BD Rhapsody and nanopore sequencing to detect the RNA lifecycle (including nascent, mature, and degrading RNAs) in cells. Additionally, we updated our HIT-scISOseq V2 to discover a more accurate RNA lifecycle using 10x Chromium and Pacbio sequencing. Most importantly, to explore how single-cell full-length RNA sequencing technologies could help improve the RNA velocity approach, we introduced a new algorithm called 'Region Velocity' to more accurately configure cellular RNA velocity. We applied this algorithm to study spermiogenesis and compared the performance of FLOUR-seq with Pacbio-based HIT-scISOseq V2. Our findings demonstrated that 'Region Velocity' is more suitable for analyzing single-cell full-length RNA data than traditional RNA velocity approaches. These novel methods could be useful for researchers looking to discover full-length RNAs in single cells and comprehensively monitor RNA lifecycle in cells.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods
  • Nanopore Sequencing* / methods
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA* / methods
  • Single-Cell Analysis*