The review of transcriptome sequencing: principles, history and advances

Abstract

A transcriptome is a collection of RNA transcribed from a particular issue or cell at a certain developmental stage or functional state. Studies of transcriptomes could reveal gene function and gene structure, and promote our understandings on specific biological processes and molecular mechanisms. Transcriptome sequencing, or RNA-seq technologies, allow efficient transcriptome measurement and empower transcriptome research, by subjecting RNA-derived to high-throughput sequencing analysis. In recent years, a variety of improvements on RNA-seq methods have emerged, spanning from the acquisition of target RNA, the fragmentation of RNA, the synthesis of cDNA, and the sequencing methods, to meet the needs of different occasions and conditions. In addition, single cell RNA-seq method has been developed to better characterize the transcriptomes of various cell types in biological tissues and reveal the heterogeneity of gene expression between cells. This article focuses on the principle, development, and application of RNA-seq technologies, and elaborates on various up-to-date RNA-seq improving methods.