Clonal barcoding with qPCR detection enables live cell functional analyses for cancer research

Abstract

Single-cell analysis methods are valuable tools; however, current approaches do not easily enable live cell retrieval. That is a particular issue when further study of cells that were eliminated during experimentation could provide critical information. We report a clonal molecular barcoding method, called SunCatcher, that enables longitudinal tracking and live cell functional analysis. From complex cell populations, we generate single cell-derived clonal populations, infect each with a unique molecular barcode, and retain stocks of individual barcoded clones (BCs). We develop quantitative PCR-based and next-generation sequencing methods that we employ to identify and quantify BCs in vitro and in vivo. We apply SunCatcher to various breast cancer cell lines and combine respective BCs to create versions of the original cell lines. While the heterogeneous BC pools reproduce their original parental cell line proliferation and tumor progression rates, individual BCs are phenotypically and functionally diverse. Early spontaneous metastases can also be identified and quantified. SunCatcher thus provides a rapid and sensitive approach for studying live single-cell clones and clonal evolution, and performing functional analyses.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jul 04, 2022
Source ID
10.1038/s41467-022-31536-5

Entities

People

  • Adam G. Maynard
  • Amanuel Bizuayehu
  • Gregory J. Goreczny
  • Jessica F. Olive
  • Milos Spasic
  • Peter van Galen
  • Qiuchen Guo
  • Sandra S McAllister

Organizations

  • American Association for Cancer Research
  • Glenn Foundation for Medical Research
  • METAvivor
  • National Cancer Institute
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Molecular Genetics
  • Molecular and genetic basis of cancer.
  • Oncology (Cancer Research).