多物种混合转录组测序(msRNA-seq)及其在海洋生态学研究中的应用

Mixed-Species RNA Sequencing (msRNA-seq) and Its Application in Marine Ecological Studies

转录组测序是细胞生理学过程和机制的解析手段之一。目前,主要应用在对特定物种或细胞类型在不同生长、发育阶段(时间序列)或不同组织、器官、生长环境(空间序列)中基因转录本丰度的定量和比较上。但是,这并不适用于多物种共存的自然生态系统和多细胞协同作用的生物体中。应运而生的混合多物种转录组分析技术则是可以同时针对两个或两个以上物种或细胞类型的转录组进行分析,以此来解析物种或细胞间的相互作用。其最大特点是靠后期拆分数据而不是通过前期的物理方法来拆分物种或细胞类型。目前,该技术在动物医学领域中使用较多,但在生态系统尤其是海洋生态系统的研究中应用较少。本文介绍了多物种混合转录组测序的概念、方法、研究历程和在海洋生态学研究中的应用及前景,以期为该领域研究者打开新思路,提供新方法。

Transcriptomic analysis by sequencing(RNA-seq)is a very important tool of describing the physiological processes in cells and deciphering their physiological mechanism.At present,this tool is widely used to compare the abundances of transcripts in the cells when they experience different developmental and growth stages(Temporal series)or function in different tissues and organs or perform in different environments(Spatial series).However,natural ecosystems and organisms are the systems in which multiple cells cooperate concertedly.The RNA-seq evolves into mixed-species RNA-seq(msRNA-seq)when the analysis is designed to understand the interactions among diverse species or cells from different species.The method distinguishes different species or cells from different species by sorting and assigning the sequencing reads to different species or cells from different species rather than by separating different species or cells from different species physically.Currently,msRNA-seq has been using in animal cells widely while its application in marine ecological studies is scarce.In view of this,we introduced the idea,the methodology,the research history and the application in the future of this method in marine ecological studies in order to provide a novel methodological choice for the researchers.