Discover More in Transcriptome Research with the Unprecedented Read Coverage, Sensitivity and Resolution of Targeted RNA Sequencing

While researchers are currently able to perform whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) to evaluate expression levels, variant splicing events, SNPs, and InDels, the standard RNA-Seq approach has significant drawbacks. A major challenge is that many rare events are not detected due to the depth of sequencing necessary to resolve them whereas the overwhelming number of sequencing reads derive from a small subset of highly abundant transcripts.

Dr. Mercer and Dr. Tan will present a novel targeted RNA sequencing method and elaborate on experiences with targeted RNA sequencing that overcomes many of the standard RNA-Seq limitations and achieves unprecedented read coverage, sensitivity and resolution.

Targeted RNA sequencing enables more sensitive gene discovery, more precise measurement of gene abundance, and more accurate isoform assembly. Data will be presented on targeted RNA sequencing to (i) annotate long noncoding RNAs, (ii) profile the expression and aberrant splicing of oncogenes in tumors, (iii) discover new genes in ‘empty’ disease-associated genome intervals and (iv) map transient RNA intermediates in the splicing pathway. For instance, an analysis of transcription from human chromosome 21 reveals a massive abundance and diversity of splicing, coding and noncoding RNAs, well beyond current annotations. Further comparison to the syntenic mouse transcriptome distinguishes the evolutionary forces shaping this transcriptional and regulatory complexity.

Speakers

Timothy R. Mercer, PhD, Lab Head - Transcriptomic Research, The Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Australia

Dr Tim Mercer completed his PhD at the University of Queensland with Prof John Mattick, where he undertook early research into noncoding RNAs making notable contributions to the recognition of long noncoding RNAs as a new class of genes. He has also undertaken research at the Broad Institute (Boston), Max Planck (Dresden) and Centre for Genome Regulation (Barcelona).

Dr Mercer continues research at the Garvan Institute, with interests in genome and RNA biology (noncoding RNAs, gene organization, expression and splicing), and bioinformatic and sequencing innovations.

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John Tan, PhD, Senior Scientist – Sequence Capture, Roche NimbleGen

Dr. John Tan holds a PhD degree from the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina-Asheville. Previously, he was Managing Director of the Notre Dame Genomics Core Facility and a Research Assistant Professor in association with the Eck Institute for Global Health and Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame. He has contributed to work published in journals including Genome Biology, Nature, and Science, with a focus on malaria and infectious disease research.

John joined Roche NimbleGen in 2013 where he he has served as project lead for the KAPA library prep kit, SeqCap adapter kit, and SeqCap RNA Enrichment Kit launches.

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