Visium Spatial Gene Expression

The Visium Spatial Gene Expression Solution measures total mRNA in intact tissue sections and maps where that gene activity is occurring. Visium system have two platforms

1-Visium Spatial Tissue Optimization workflow allows the user to optimize permeabilization conditions for a tissue of interest. Tissue sections are placed onto corresponding Capture Areas on the Visium Spatial Tissue Optimization Slide. These sections are fixed and stained, as described in Tissue Fixation & Staining and then permeabilized for different times. mRNA released during permeabilization binds to capture probes on the slide. cDNA is generated using fluorescently labeled nucleotides to visualize synthesized cDNA. Finally, the tissue is enzymatically removed, leaving fluorescently labeled cDNA that may be visualized using fluorescence microscopy to select the optimal permeabilization time.

2- Visium Spatial Gene Expression Slide contains Capture Areas with gene expression spots that include
primers required for capture and priming of poly-adenylated mRNA. Tissue sections placed on these Capture Areas are fixed and stained, permeabilized, and cellular mRNA is captured by the primers on the gene expression spots. All the cDNA generated from mRNA captured by primers on a specific spot share a common Spatial Barcode. Libraries are generated from the cDNA and sequenced and the Spatial Barcodes are used to associate the reads back to the tissue section images for spatial gene expression mapping.

Project team

Mimi Sammarco

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Ahmed Moustafa

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