Iterative epigenomic analyses in the same single cell

Gene expression in individual cells is epigenetically regulated by DNA modifications, histone modifications, transcription factors, and other DNA-binding proteins. It has been shown that multiple histone modifications can predict gene expression and reflect future responses of bulk cells to extracellular cues. However, the predictive ability of epigenomic analysis is still limited for mechanistic research at a single cell level. To overcome this limitation, it would be useful to acquire reliable signals from multiple epigenetic marks in the same single cell. Here, we propose a new approach and a new method for analysis of several components of the epigenome in the same single cell. The new method allows reanalysis of the same single cell. We found that reanalysis of the same single cell is feasible, provides confirmation of the epigenetic signals, and allows application of statistical analysis to identify reproduced reads using data sets generated only from the single cell. Reanalysis of the same single cell is also useful to acquire multiple epigenetic marks from the same single cells. The method can acquire at least five epigenetic marks: H3K27ac, H3K27me3, mediator complex subunit 1, a DNA modification, and a DNA-interacting protein. We can predict active signaling pathways in K562 single cells using the epigenetic data and confirm that the predicted results strongly correlate with actual active signaling pathways identified by RNA-seq results. These results suggest that the new method provides mechanistic insights for cellular phenotypes through multilayered epigenome analysis in the same single cells.

Automated summary

Gene expression in individual cells is regulated by various epigenetic mechanisms, but the predictive ability of epigenomic analysis for single cells is limited. A new method proposed in this study allows for the analysis of multiple components of the epigenome in the same single cell, enabling reanalysis and identification of reproduced reads. This method provides mechanistic insights for cellular phenotypes through multilayered epigenome analysis, with the ability to predict active signaling pathways in single cells.