Single-Molecule Real-Time Sequencing in cfDNA AnalysisPosted by kiko on January 24th, 2024 Circulating free DNA (cfDNA) refers to fragmented DNA molecules that cells release into the bloodstream. These fragments typically range in length from 50 to 300 base pairs and are present in the blood at relatively low concentrations. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) serves as a nucleic acid biomarker employed for the detection and monitoring of cancer progression over time. PacBio Single-molecule real-time sequencing technology has significantly advanced the field of genomics by allowing direct sequencing of individual DNA molecules without the need for PCR amplification or cloning. This technology has also been applied to analyze circulating free DNA (cfDNA), offering unique advantages in studying cfDNA fragmentation patterns, which can be informative for cancer detection and other diagnostic applications. In traditional sequencing methods, DNA is usually fragmented and amplified before sequencing, which can introduce biases and artifacts. However, single-molecule sequencing directly analyzes the cfDNA molecules in their native state, providing more accurate information about their size distribution and fragmentation patterns. Advantages of SMRT Sequencing in cfDNA Analysis Some key advantages of using single-molecule sequencing technology for cfDNA analysis are:
Case 1: SMRT Sequencing Enables cfDNA Detection and Direct Methylation Analysis in Cancer Research Research Background: The analysis of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has become increasingly important in cancer therapy. However, previous studies have mostly focused on short cfDNA fragments, and conventional bisulfite sequencing techniques can lead to DNA degradation, making it challenging to assess long DNA properties and methylation patterns accurately. This study aimed to address these limitations by employing single-molecule sequencing technologies, such as SMRT sequencing, to detect longer cfDNA molecules and directly analyze their methylation patterns. The researchers aimed to develop a new indicator, the HCC methylation score, for cancer detection, specifically focusing on cancers other than hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The study used PacBio SMRT sequencing to sequence plasma DNA from cancer patients. Each cfDNA molecule's fragment size and methylation pattern were analyzed individually through single-molecule sequencing, allowing the researchers to establish the HCC methylation score for cancer detection. To determine the contribution of plasma DNA from the liver, a scoring system was developed, evaluating specific methylation patterns of plasma DNA molecules relative to other tissues like buffy coat, lungs, or colon tissue. Research Idea: The study aimed to analyze cfDNA molecules from cancer patients' plasma and identify long DNA molecules. The researchers conducted direct methylation analysis using polymerase kinetic features during single-molecule sequencing and developed the HCC methylation score to distinguish cancer patients from non-cancer individuals. Findings: The researchers discovered that a substantial portion of plasma DNA in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatitis B virus carriers, and healthy individuals consisted of molecules longer than 1 kb, with the longest molecule being 39.8 kb. Tumor-free cfDNA was generally shorter than cfDNA from non-tumor sources. Tumor cfDNA exhibited lower methylation levels compared to non-tumor cfDNA. Using long DNA molecules significantly improved the accuracy of cancer detection compared to using short fragments alone. The identification of this previously unknown population of long cfDNAs in cancer patients could pave the way for new liquid biopsy-based diagnostics and single-molecule resolution analysis of tissue origin. Study Conclusion: The study revealed the existence of a previously unrecognized population of long cfDNAs in cancer patients. Analyzing these molecules and their direct methylation patterns provides new opportunities for liquid biopsy-based cancer detection. The use of multiple CpG sites in long plasma DNA molecules demonstrated their potential in effectively distinguishing cancer patients from non-cancer individuals, offering new possibilities for long cfDNA-based cancer diagnosis. The researchers also suggested that future work might explore other single-molecule sequencing technologies, such as nanopore sequencing, for even more efficient detection of long cfDNA molecules. Case 2: Comparison of SMRT Sequencing and Nanopore Sequencing for cfDNA Analysis Research Background: This research paper investigates the use of single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing for analyzing long cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in plasma. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential clinical applications of long cfDNA in pregnancy and cancer. However, the performance differences between various long-read sequencing platforms for long cfDNA analysis are not well understood. The researchers aim to compare two SMRT sequencing platforms, PacBio and ONT, to identify any analytical characteristics and biases specific to each technology that could impact the analysis, such as a bias towards longer or shorter cfDNA fragment sizes. Methods: The authors compared two SMRT sequencing platforms, PacBio and ONT, using an artificial mixture of ultrasound-treated human and mouse genomic DNA fragments to assess the size bias of each platform. The study involved analyzing cfDNA samples from pregnant women at different trimesters, hepatitis B carriers, and hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The data analysis included evaluating size bias, comparing ending pattern profiles, and analyzing tissue of origin based on single molecule methylation patterns. Study Idea
Findings
Study Conclusions SMRT sequencing, in general, generated a higher percentage of long cfDNA compared to nanopore sequencing (ONT). PacBio showed a stronger bias towards analyzing longer DNA fragments compared to ONT, though both platforms were biased towards longer fragments. Terminal motif profiles of cfDNA were similar between the two platforms but exhibited platform-dependent patterns. Tissue-of-origin analysis based on single-molecule methylation patterns performed similarly on both platforms. Researchers using PacBio and ONT for cfDNA analysis should be aware of possible analytical characteristics and biases specific to each technique. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the performance of PacBio and ONT platforms for analyzing long cfDNA in plasma samples from pregnant women at different trimesters and patients with hepatitis B carriers or hepatocellular carcinoma. The findings highlight the importance of considering platform-specific biases and analytical characteristics during cfDNA analysis. References
Like it? Share it!More by this author |