1660-Multimodal Mapping of Tissue Genome Architecture

The paper introduce Spatial Hi-C-RNA, a pioneering multimodal technology that simultaneously maps three-dimensional genome architecture and whole-transcriptome profiles within intact tissue sections. By integrating microfluidic barcoding with high-throughput chromatin capture and RNA sequencing, this platform preserves the physical context of genetic regulation at near-single-cell resolution. Researchers successfully applied this method to mouse embryos, adult brains, and human melanoma, demonstrating its ability to link structural features like chromatin loops and A/B compartments to specific cell identities. The findings reveal that spatial genome organization provides deeper insights into developmental processes and tumor heterogeneity than gene expression analysis alone. Ultimately, this framework offers a powerful tool for investigating the complex structure-function relationships of the genome in both healthy development and disease.

References:

• Guo P, Cui Y, He J, et al. Integrative spatial profiling of 3D genome organization and gene expression in tissue[J]. Cell, 2026.