SNAIL-RCA: A method for multiplexed RNA visualization in single cells

Researchers at Stanford have developed the SNAIL-RCA method for inexpensive and efficient multiplexed detection of single RNA molecules in single cells. SNAIL-RCA (Splint Nucleotide Assisted Intramolecular Ligation followed by Rolling Circle Amplification) provides a simplified proximity ligation technique to enable multiplexed, quantitative, targeted detection of single molecules of RNA in single cells, fresh-frozen tissue and archival FFPE sections. The method may be combined with flow cytometry or mass cytometry to simultaneously analyze large numbers of cells from multiple nucleic acids (up to 20 or more transcripts can be simultaneously analyzed, at a rate of up to ~500 or more cells/second). The RCA products can be detected with a variety of techniques including optical microscopy and SIMS ion beam imaging. This technology will aide biomarker discovery and enable development of molecular diagnostics, including cancer diagnostics, for precision medicine.

Stage of Development
The researchers have demonstrated that SNAIL-RCA enables easily configured, diligently managed, quantitative detection of gene expression levels in single cells.

Albumin mRNA in mouse liver tissue section