Simultaneous quantifications of protein-DNA interactions and transcriptomes in single cells with scDam&T-seq

Protein-DNA interactions are essential to establish cell type-specific chromatin architecture and gene expression. We recently developed scDam&T-seq, a multi-omics method that can simultaneously quantify protein-DNA interactions and the transcriptome in single cells. The method effectively combines two existing methods: DamID and CEL-Seq2. DamID works through the tethering of a protein of interest (POI) to the Escherichia coli DNA adenine methyltransferase (Dam). Upon expression of this fusion protein, DNA in proximity of the POI is methylated by Dam and can be selectively digested and amplified. CEL-Seq2, on the other hand, makes use of poly-dT primers to reverse transcribe mRNA, followed by linear amplification through in vitro transcription (IVT). scDam&T-seq is the first technique capable of providing a combined readout of protein-DNA contact and transcription from single-cell samples. Once suitable cell lines have been established, the protocol can be completed in 5 days, with a throughput of hundreds to thousands of cells. The processing of raw sequencing data takes an additional 1–2 days. Our method can be used to understand the transcriptional changes a cell undergoes upon the DNA binding of a protein of interest. It can be performed in any laboratory with access to FACS, robotic and high-throughput sequencing facilities.