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Table 1 Comparison of scRNA methods

From: Advances in single-cell sequencing: insights from organ transplantation

Method

Capture format

cDNA amplification

Transcript coverage

Molecule identifier

Strength

Weakness

References

Drop-seq

Droplets

PCR

3′ end

UMI

For individual cells; simultaneous analysis without losing the original transcript; high throughput, lower costs and reduction of the mRNA amplification noise

Only 3′ end is enabled for specific the amplification

[38]

10× Genomics Chromium

Droplets

PCR

3′ end

UMI

Increased throughput, cost effective and time efficient

Only 3′ end is enabled for specific amplification, efficiency losses

[45]

InDrop

Droplets

IVT

3′ end

UMI

Detects rare cell populations; high throughput, low noise profile

Low cell capture efficiency

[35]

CEL-seq 1 & 2

Plate

IVT

3′ end

UMI

For complex tissues containing multiple cell populations; improved accuracy and higher sensitivity; reduces mRNA amplification noise

Low cell capture efficiency

[36, 37]

Smart-seq 1 & 2

Plate

PCR

Full length

UMI

Increases thermal stability of DNA base pairs

Lower detection efficiency, limited throughput and read coverage

[31, 32]

MATQ-seq

Plate

PCR

Full length

NA

For low-abundance genes and noncoding and non-polyadenylated RNA; highly sensitive with quantitative detection efficiency

Low throughput

[43]

Quartz-seq 1 & 2

Plate

PCR

Full length

NA (Quartz-seq), UMI (Quartz-seq 2)

For different cell cycle phases and transcriptome heterogeneity detection; high quantity and efficiency in limited sequence reads

Requires skilled technician

[33, 34]

SCRB-seq

Plate

PCR

3′ end

UMI

For heterogeneous population identification; high throughput, low cost, simple steps, fewer potential biases, reduced mRNA amplification noise

Requires skilled technician

[46]

FB5P-seq

Plate

PCR

5′ end

UMI

For BCR and TCR repertoire identification; cost and time effective; integrative analysis of transcriptome

3′ end scRNA-seq protocols are not suitable

[30]

STRT-seq

Plate

PCR

5′ end

UMI

Improves efficiency and tracking of cell origin; no quantitative bias against long transcripts

Technical variation

[47]

TCR-seq

Plate

PCR

3′ end

NA

For T-cell diversity identification

No standardized thresholds, disparities between different studies

[44]

MARS-seq 1 & 2

Plate

IVT

3′ end

UMI

For in vivo transcriptional states in thousands of single cells; minimizes amplification bias

Requires skilled technician

[48]

  1. IVT In vitro transcription, UMI Unique molecular identifiers