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Next-generation hybridization chain reaction tools with enhanced sensitivities to detect challenging targets

Singh, C.; Bali, N.; Coughlin, G. M.; Xu, J.; Polansky, J. Y.; Herget, U.; Gilbert, M. S.; Cammidge, T.; Spigolon, G.; Smirnova, Y.; Gradinaru, V.; Zinn, K.; Prober, D. A.

2025-09-11 neuroscience
10.1101/2025.09.09.675218 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Compared to traditional enzyme-based in situ amplification methods, Hybridization Chain Reaction v3.0 (HCR v3.0) offers high specificity for spatial RNA visualization but lacks the sensitivity needed for short or low-abundance targets, especially in thick tissue with high autofluorescence. We describe next-generation HCR detection methods that combine the specificity of HCR v3.0 with enzyme-based signal amplification through catalysis (HCR-Cat) or immunostaining (HCR-Immuno, HCR-Multi). These methods enhance sensitivity for robust spatial detection of both short and low-abundance targets, work well in challenging tissue environments, and enable broad utility across basic research and translational applications. These methods allow spatial detection of challenging targets that are poorly-accessible using HCR v3.0, as well as quantitative analysis of single transcripts even when targeting short RNAs with a limited number of probes.

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