High capture efficiency and sensitivity of scATAC-Seq assay demonstrated in Nature Biotechnology study
Hercules, CA — Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) today announced the launch of its scATAC-Seq solution, a single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing. Findings published in Nature Biotechnology demonstrate its high capture efficiency and sensitivity for profiling of gene regulation of individual human cells.
The scATAC-Seq assay offers researchers a tool to map the epigenetic landscape at single-cell resolution to gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind healthy and disease processes in the body. The product harnesses the power of the ddSEQ Single-Cell Isolator and Bio-Rad’s Droplet Digital technology to partition thousands of nuclei or whole cells into individual nanoliter-sized droplets to facilitate library preparation for ATAC sequencing. The solution also includes a flexible bioinformatics pipeline for data analysis.
“Our product offers users the greatest sensitivity possible by providing the highest number of unique sequencing fragments that map to the nuclear genome, ATAC peaks, and transcription start sites,” said Carolyn Reifsnyder, Director of Global Marketing for Bio-Rad’s Digital Biology Group. “With a cell capture efficiency of up to 95%, as demonstrated in the paper published June 24 in Nature Biotechnology, we are confident that Bio-Rad provides a powerful tool to help researchers understand the factors that shape cell differentiation and cell fate.”
In the Nature Biotechnology study, Harvard University and Bio-Rad researchers used scATAC-Seq to generate chromatin accessibility profiles of more than 500,000 cells from the mouse brain, human bone marrow, and blood. This is the most comprehensive cell atlas of the mouse brain to date using scATAC-Seq.
Bio-Rad collaborated with Jason Buenrostro, PhD, assistant professor in Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, co-author of the paper and ATAC-Seq inventor, to develop the novel approach to single-cell ATAC-Seq profiling.
“This droplet approach will be available to biomedical researchers in all fields as an off-the-shelf technology, and I’m really proud that we helped it get to this stage,” said Buenrostro.
The research detailed in the Nature Biotechnology paper also includes a novel barcoding method to increase the number of cells that can be assayed tenfold or more.
“In this study, we also developed a method within the method,” Buenrostro said. “It changes the questions one can ask and how quickly answers can be found; using the scATAC-Seq solution, I think we’re going to see research moving much more rapidly now.”
In addition to Buenrostro’s team, the scATAC-Seq solution has also given early access customers the power to study rare cell populations, opening up new applications such as the ability to study tumor heterogeneity or identify rare cell types in blood.
“We need to comprehensively analyze cell populations at the single-cell level in order to precisely define all cell types and gain a true understanding of developmental processes,” said Debbie Goode of Resurgo Genetics, PhD, an early access tester of the scATAC-Seq solution. “The solution allows us to roadmap the entire regulatory landscape of the genome across thousands of cells, transforming genomics research into an ever more powerful tool to answer fundamental biological questions.”
Please visit bio-rad.com/scATAC-Seq to learn more about Bio-Rad’s scATAC-Seq solution.
About Bio-Rad
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) is a global leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing a broad range of innovative products for the life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. With a focus on quality and customer service for over 65 years, our products advance the discovery process and improve healthcare. Our customers are university and research institutions, hospitals, public health and commercial laboratories, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, as well as applied laboratories that include food safety and environmental quality. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is based in Hercules, California, and has a global network of operations with more than 8,000 employees worldwide. Bio-Rad had revenues exceeding $2.2 billion in 2018. For more information, please visit www.bio-rad.com.
This release may be deemed to contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements we make regarding plans to introduce new products, the opportunities that may result from such new products and our expectations regarding our products. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plan", "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "may," "will," "intend," "estimate," "offers," or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include our ability to develop and market new or improved products, our ability to compete effectively, international legal and regulatory risks, and product quality and liability issues. For further information regarding our risks and uncertainties, please refer to the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" in Bio-Rad’s public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Bio-Rad cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof. We disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Press Contacts:
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Carolyn Reifsnyder
408-614-6103
carolyn_reifsnyder@bio-rad.com
CG Life
Ken Li
312-532-4675
kli@cglife.com