What's Happening?
Recent advancements in protein sequencing have been made through the integration of imaging-based and sequencing-based spatial omics mapping via DBiTplus. This innovative approach allows for the co-mapping
of RNAs and proteins on the same tissue section, significantly enhancing cell-type annotation and spatial localization. The DBiTplus technique involves the use of DNA barcodes delivered through microfluidic chips, which form a unique two-dimensional array of barcoded spots. After tissue lysis, barcoded cDNAs are recovered, purified, and amplified for paired-end sequencing to generate spatial gene expression maps. This method has been adapted to profile the transcriptome, epigenome, and proteome, and has recently been applied to archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. The integration of DBiT-seq with mxIF aims to release cDNA from tissue sections while maintaining tissue integrity, allowing for cross-validation and enhancing confidence in cell-type annotation and spatial localization.
Why It's Important?
The integration of DBiTplus in protein sequencing represents a significant leap forward in spatial omics mapping, offering a more comprehensive understanding of cellular functions and interactions. This advancement is crucial for the fields of genomics and proteomics, as it provides a more detailed and accurate mapping of gene and protein expressions within tissue sections. The ability to co-map RNAs and proteins on the same tissue section enhances the precision of cell-type annotation and spatial localization, which is vital for research in disease mechanisms and therapeutic development. This technology could lead to more targeted and effective treatments by providing deeper insights into the molecular underpinnings of diseases.
