The workflow of single-cell expression profiling using quantitative real-time PCR
Journal article, 2014

Biological material is heterogeneous and when exposed to stimuli the various cells present respond differently. Much of the complexity can be eliminated by disintegrating the sample, studying the cells one by one. Single-cell profiling reveals responses that go unnoticed when classical samples are studied. New cell types and cell subtypes may be found and relevant pathways and expression networks can be identified. The most powerful technique for single-cell expression profiling is currently quantitative reverse transcription real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). A robust RT-qPCR workflow for highly sensitive and specific measurements in high-throughput and a reasonable degree of multiplexing has been developed for targeting mRNAs, but also microRNAs, non-coding RNAs and most recently also proteins. We review the current state of the art of single-cell expression profiling and present also the improvements and developments expected in the next 5 years.

preamplification

MOLECULES

RT-qPCR

gene expression profiling

MESSENGER-RNA LEVELS

QUANTIFICATION

CANCER

GUIDELINES MINIMUM INFORMATION

DISEASE

single-cell analysis

FLOW

PUBLICATION

GENE

single-

single-cell workflow

DNA

Author

Anders Ståhlberg

University of Gothenburg

Mikael Kubista

Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics

1473-7159 (ISSN) 17448352 (eISSN)

Vol. 14 3 323-331

Subject Categories

Cell and Molecular Biology

DOI

10.1586/14737159.2014.901154

More information

Created

10/10/2017