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A marker-free technology for mapping the epigenome of cell types in mammalian tissues

Award Number: R01HG011013
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/04/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2025

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A marker-free technology for mapping the epigenome of cell types in mammalian tissues - PROJECT SUMMARY The genome within cells of a multicellular organism is identical, yet distinct cell types display varied functions due to differences in their epigenome. Therefore, mapping the genome-wide epigenetic landscape of different cell types within a tissue is critical for understanding cell type-specific gene expression regulation. Techniques to map epigenetic factors currently rely on our ability to isolate the desired cell types at high purity with certain biochemical assays, such as quantifying protein-DNA contacts, also requiring a large number of starting cells. However, cell type-specific markers and antibodies are frequently unknown or unavailable, presenting a major challenge in isolating cell types at high purity. While transgenic animal models that express cell type-specific fluorescent reporters can overcome this limitation in some cases, generation of these animal models is time consuming. Further, tissues frequently contain rare cell types, making it challenging to isolate large numbers of such cells that are required for assays mapping the binding landscape of transcription factors or chromatin modifying proteins. To overcome limitations of these current approaches, the overall goal of this proposal is to establish a marker-free high-throughput technology to map the epigenome of different cell types within a tissue by developing single-cell sequencing methods to simultaneously quantify the transcriptome and epigenome from the same cell. The single-cell transcriptomes will be used for the unbiased identification of cell types in silico, and the corresponding epigenomes of cells belonging to the same cell type will be pooled to generate high- quality cell type-specific epigenetic landscapes. More specifically, in Aim 1 we propose to develop a single-cell multiomics technology to simultaneously quantify mRNA, 5mC and DNA accessibility from the same cell. Unlike a recently developed method that makes these measurements by physically separating mRNA from genomic DNA, our technology does not involve the physical separation of nucleic acids, thereby enabling high-throughput processing of thousands of single cells per day. Preliminary experiments suggest that we can efficiently make these combined measurements from the same cell. In Aim 2, we propose to develop a new single-cell method to simultaneously quantify mRNA and protein-DNA contacts from the same cell. In preliminary experiments, we mapped genome-nuclear lamina interactions or the binding pattern of a chromatin modifying protein together with mRNA from the same cell. Finally, as proof-of-concept that the methods developed in this proposal can be used to map cell type-specific epigenetic profiles from in vivo tissue samples, we will quantify methylome and DNA accessibility patterns for cell types in the rat retina. The retina is well-studied neural tissue with over 50 cell types, including rare ones, and therefore serves as an excellent testbed to validate our technologies. Thus, through the development of these multiomics single-cell methods, we expect to develop a technology that can be applied to map the epigenome of different cell types in a tissue without a priori knowledge of cell type-specific markers, enabling deeper understanding of the mechanisms of gene regulation in heterogeneous tissues.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA	3227 CHEADLE HALL	SANTA BARBARA	CA	93106	SANTA BARBARA	USA	Human Genome Research	000	5	6/11/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $334,872 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA	3227 CHEADLE HALL	SANTA BARBARA	CA	93106	SANTA BARBARA	USA	Human Genome Research	001	5	6/6/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$33,487
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA	3227 CHEADLE HALL	SANTA BARBARA	CA	93106	SANTA BARBARA	USA	Human Genome Research	000	5	2/7/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$301,385
														Subtotal = $334,872

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $334,872 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA	3227 CHEADLE HALL	SANTA BARBARA	CA	93106	SANTA BARBARA	USA	Human Genome Research	000	4	1/30/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$301,385
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA	3227 CHEADLE HALL	SANTA BARBARA	CA	93106	SANTA BARBARA	USA	Human Genome Research	001	4	3/14/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$33,487
														Subtotal = $334,872

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $374,296 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA	3227 CHEADLE HALL	SANTA BARBARA	CA	93106	SANTA BARBARA	USA	Human Genome Research	000	3	2/2/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$336,866
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA	3227 CHEADLE HALL	SANTA BARBARA	CA	93106	SANTA BARBARA	USA	Human Genome Research	001	3	5/2/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$37,430
														Subtotal = $374,296

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $374,817 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA	3227 CHEADLE HALL	SANTA BARBARA	CA	93106	SANTA BARBARA	USA	Human Genome Research	000	2	2/4/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$374,817
														Subtotal = $374,817

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $374,801 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA	3227 CHEADLE HALL	SANTA BARBARA	CA	93106	SANTA BARBARA	USA	Human Genome Research	000	1	2/4/2020	NEW	$374,801
														Subtotal = $374,801

Grand Total All Awards = $1,793,658

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A marker-free technology for mapping the epigenome of cell types in mammalian tissues

Award Number: R01HG011013

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/04/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2025

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