The basic instructions for cell function are written in the genetic sequence of DNA, which is virtually identical in all cells of the body. However, its gene expression varies greatly depending on the tissue in which it is found, physiological conditions, and stage of development. This variability is the result of gene expression regulation, which selects which specific DNA fragments are transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) and also controls the maturation of that same mRNA.
In the case of post-transcriptional regulation, one of the essential mechanisms is alternative polyadenylation (APA), which involves determining which DNA fragments are included in the final mRNA. The terminal regions of mRNA do not normally affect the function of the related proteins, but they do affect their regulation and localization. This makes APA a decisive mechanism for cell differentiation and development and the response to environmental stimuli. In fact, some alterations in these APA patterns have been linked to altered gene expression and the tumour development.
To better understand this phenomenon, transcriptomic tools are needed to analyse mRNA at a single-cell level. Now, a research group from the University of Barcelona and the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) has developed SCALPEL, a tool that allows the quantification and characterization of messenger RNA from individual cells with significantly higher sensitivity and specificity than existing methods.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications , is led by Mireya Plass, professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and head of the IDIBELL Research Group on Gene Regulation of Cell Identity.
