| 摘要 |
The RBS assay is intended for isolating cells that may be predisposed to have a certain response to a treatment regime, but the assay accomplishes this without actually subjecting the isolated cells to that treatment. The assay relies on the assumption that, if a cell has a predisposition to show a certain response to a treatment due to its intrinsic genetic or epigenetic makeup, then this predisposition is likely inherited by its daughter cells after this cell divides. The RBS assay follows the following scheme: First, a unique genetic identifier, or "barcode", is inserted into each cell of the starting population. Next, these cells are allowed to proliferate such that each uniquely barcoded cell is amplified into multiple daughter cells bearing the same barcode. Cells are then split into two pools: a treatment pool and a reserve pool. The treatment pool is subject to the treatment to identify cells showing a positive response. Barcodes from these positive cells are then read. Finally, for each barcode identified this way, cells in the reserve pool bearing this same barcode are retrieved. These cells should be the sisters of the positive cells in the treatment pool by virtue of having the same barcode. Cells retrieved in this manner can be studied prospectively to address whether they have a predisposition to respond to the treatment, and if so, the genetic or epigenetic basis thereof. |
