Michael Clark from The University of Melbourne in Australia presented at London Calling 2023 the session entitled “Investigating RNA isoform expression using the IsoMix toolkit.” They have created tools for RNA isoform analyses. Clark shared an example of a human gene expressed in multiple RNA isoforms. They explained that alternative isoforms can create RNAs and proteins with different functions. Clark and team have been using long-read RNA-seq to identify expressed isoforms. With long-read sequencing, they are able to identify different isoforms and quantify them. Clark’s group developed the IsoMix toolkit that can be found at isomix.org. The toolkit includes BLAZE used to identify cell barcodes from single-cell long reads. Previously, scRNA-seq required short and long-read sequencing. Now, BLAZE identifies barcodes from long-read sequencing. With accurate detection of barcodes, Clark’s group used LR scRNA-seq to learn about neuronal transcription factors. DiscoANT is another tool developed by the Clark lab and used to characterize risk gene isoforms in the human brain. The team looked at seven regions of post mortem human brain from four individuals. There were several isoforms that were identified and novel. Importantly, high read counts of novel isoforms in schizophrenia risk genes were found. Clark said that the IsoMix tool kit can be used to “identify, quantify, and visualize isoform expression” in bulk and single cells. I wonder if some of these tools could be used for bacterial RNA analyses?
