Search bioRxiv⌕ Search

Biology subjects

Buena Atienza, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Buena Atienza, E..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Single-Platform Nanopore Sequencing Enables Diploid Telomere-to-Telomere Genome Assembly and Haplotype-Resolved 3D Chromatin Maps

Telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome assembly has transformed human genomics by resolving centromeres, segmental duplications, and other previously inaccessible regions. However, most diploid T2T assemblies rely on the combination of multi-platform sequencing strategies including short read genome sequencing, PacBio HiFi, Oxford Nanopore ultra-long reads, and chromatin conformation capture data (Hi-C), limiting both scalability and accessibility. Here, we present a streamlined Nanopore-only workflow for diploid human T2T assembly using three ultra-long and one Pore-C PromethION flow cell per individual. Across 23 genetically diverse individuals, we generated 360 gapless chromosomes and 446 near-complete T2T scaffolds, achieving median consensus accuracy of QV50 without Duplex sequencing or hybrid polishing. Assembly continuity, gene completeness, and structural variant detection were comparable to multi-platform Human Pangenome Reference Consortium assemblies. Pore-C data enabled chromosome-scale haplotype phasing without parental information and supported generation of haplotype-resolved chromatin contact maps. Integrated methylation and 3D genome analyses revealed allele-specific chromatin organization at imprinted loci and clear signatures of X-chromosome inactivation. Our openly accessible dataset expands public T2T resources and demonstrates that reference-grade diploid assemblies, phased methylomes, and 3D genome maps can be derived from a single sequencing platform. This approach reduces technical barriers and supports scalable population and functional genomics in the T2T era.

genomics↗

Long-Read RNA-sequencing reveals transcript-specific regulation in human-derived cortical neurons

Long-read RNA sequencing has transformed transcriptome analysis by enabling comprehensive mapping of full-length transcripts, providing an unprecedented resolution of transcript diversity, alternative splicing, and transcript-specific regulation. In this study, we employed nanopore long-read RNA sequencing to profile the transcriptomes of human fibroblasts, induced pluripotent stem cells, and stem cell-derived cortical neurons, identifying extensive transcript diversity with 15,072 transcripts in stem cell-derived cortical neurons, 13,048 in fibroblasts, and 12,759 in induced pluripotent stem cells. Our analyses uncovered 35,519 differential transcript expression events and 5,135 differential transcript usage events, underscoring the complexity of transcriptomic regulation across these cell types. Importantly, by integrating differential transcript expression and usage analyses, we gained deeper insights into transcript dynamics that are not captured by gene-level expression analysis alone. Notably, differential transcript usage analysis highlighted transcript-specific changes in disease-relevant genes such as APP, KIF2A, and BSCL2, associated with Alzheimers disease, neuronal migration disorders, and degenerative axonopathies, respectively. This added resolution emphasizes the significance of transcript- level variations that often remain hidden in traditional differential gene expression analyses. Overall, our work provides a framework for understanding transcript diversity in both pluripotent and specialized cell types, which can be used to investigate transcriptomic changes in disease states. Additionally, this study underscores the utility of differential transcript usage analysis in advancing our understanding of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, paving the way for identifying transcript-specific therapeutic targets.

neuroscience↗