Nature Methods 2014-05-01

Transcriptional profiling of cells sorted by RNA abundance.

Sandy Klemm, Stefan Semrau, Kay Wiebrands, Dylan Mooijman, Dina A Faddah, Rudolf Jaenisch, Alexander van Oudenaarden

Index: Nature Methods 11(5) , 549-51, (2014)

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Abstract

We have developed a quantitative technique for sorting cells on the basis of endogenous RNA abundance, with a molecular resolution of 10-20 transcripts. We demonstrate efficient and unbiased RNA extraction from transcriptionally sorted cells and report a high-fidelity transcriptome measurement of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) isolated from a heterogeneous reprogramming culture. This method is broadly applicable to profiling transcriptionally distinct cellular states without requiring antibodies or transgenic fluorescent proteins.