Spatial profiling of chromatin accessibility in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues

Abstract Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples represent a vast, untapped resource for epigenomic research, yet molecular tools for deep analysis of these specimens remain limited. We introduce spatial FFPE-ATAC-seq, an approach for in situ profiling chromatin accessibility within archived...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pengfei Guo, Yufan Chen, Liran Mao, Angelysia Cardilla, Chin Nien Lee, Yan Cui, Dengge Jin, Yucong Hua, Xiaowei Xu, Yanxiang Deng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60882-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849334326089482240
author Pengfei Guo
Yufan Chen
Liran Mao
Angelysia Cardilla
Chin Nien Lee
Yan Cui
Dengge Jin
Yucong Hua
Xiaowei Xu
Yanxiang Deng
author_facet Pengfei Guo
Yufan Chen
Liran Mao
Angelysia Cardilla
Chin Nien Lee
Yan Cui
Dengge Jin
Yucong Hua
Xiaowei Xu
Yanxiang Deng
author_sort Pengfei Guo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples represent a vast, untapped resource for epigenomic research, yet molecular tools for deep analysis of these specimens remain limited. We introduce spatial FFPE-ATAC-seq, an approach for in situ profiling chromatin accessibility within archived tissues. This approach overcomes formalin-induced crosslinking challenges, allowing high-resolution mapping of chromatin landscapes while preserving tissue architecture. Applying spatial FFPE-ATAC-seq to mouse and human tissues, including brain and thymus, reveals intricate spatial organization and distinct cell types in alignment with tissue morphology. Integration with single-cell RNA sequencing validates the precision of our chromatin profiles in identifying key cell types and regulatory elements. We further apply this method to human melanoma, comprehensively characterizing chromatin accessibility across both tumor and non-tumor regions. This method significantly expands the toolkit for epigenomic research, unlocking the potential of an extensive collection of archived FFPE samples for studying gene regulation and disease mechanisms with spatial context.
format Article
id doaj-art-a62e4bbb802f4b5587b4b5251509d924
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-a62e4bbb802f4b5587b4b5251509d9242025-08-20T03:45:35ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-60882-3Spatial profiling of chromatin accessibility in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissuesPengfei Guo0Yufan Chen1Liran Mao2Angelysia Cardilla3Chin Nien Lee4Yan Cui5Dengge Jin6Yucong Hua7Xiaowei Xu8Yanxiang Deng9Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Bioengineering, University of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Bioengineering, University of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaWhitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaAbstract Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples represent a vast, untapped resource for epigenomic research, yet molecular tools for deep analysis of these specimens remain limited. We introduce spatial FFPE-ATAC-seq, an approach for in situ profiling chromatin accessibility within archived tissues. This approach overcomes formalin-induced crosslinking challenges, allowing high-resolution mapping of chromatin landscapes while preserving tissue architecture. Applying spatial FFPE-ATAC-seq to mouse and human tissues, including brain and thymus, reveals intricate spatial organization and distinct cell types in alignment with tissue morphology. Integration with single-cell RNA sequencing validates the precision of our chromatin profiles in identifying key cell types and regulatory elements. We further apply this method to human melanoma, comprehensively characterizing chromatin accessibility across both tumor and non-tumor regions. This method significantly expands the toolkit for epigenomic research, unlocking the potential of an extensive collection of archived FFPE samples for studying gene regulation and disease mechanisms with spatial context.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60882-3
spellingShingle Pengfei Guo
Yufan Chen
Liran Mao
Angelysia Cardilla
Chin Nien Lee
Yan Cui
Dengge Jin
Yucong Hua
Xiaowei Xu
Yanxiang Deng
Spatial profiling of chromatin accessibility in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues
Nature Communications
title Spatial profiling of chromatin accessibility in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues
title_full Spatial profiling of chromatin accessibility in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues
title_fullStr Spatial profiling of chromatin accessibility in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues
title_full_unstemmed Spatial profiling of chromatin accessibility in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues
title_short Spatial profiling of chromatin accessibility in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues
title_sort spatial profiling of chromatin accessibility in formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60882-3
work_keys_str_mv AT pengfeiguo spatialprofilingofchromatinaccessibilityinformalinfixedparaffinembeddedtissues
AT yufanchen spatialprofilingofchromatinaccessibilityinformalinfixedparaffinembeddedtissues
AT liranmao spatialprofilingofchromatinaccessibilityinformalinfixedparaffinembeddedtissues
AT angelysiacardilla spatialprofilingofchromatinaccessibilityinformalinfixedparaffinembeddedtissues
AT chinnienlee spatialprofilingofchromatinaccessibilityinformalinfixedparaffinembeddedtissues
AT yancui spatialprofilingofchromatinaccessibilityinformalinfixedparaffinembeddedtissues
AT denggejin spatialprofilingofchromatinaccessibilityinformalinfixedparaffinembeddedtissues
AT yuconghua spatialprofilingofchromatinaccessibilityinformalinfixedparaffinembeddedtissues
AT xiaoweixu spatialprofilingofchromatinaccessibilityinformalinfixedparaffinembeddedtissues
AT yanxiangdeng spatialprofilingofchromatinaccessibilityinformalinfixedparaffinembeddedtissues