Single-cell gene expression profiles of human retinal progenitor cells and photoreceptor precursors from deep full-length scRNA-seq.

The human retina has unique features that are not all fully replicated in animal models. Several human-specific features center on cone photoreceptors such as a cone-rich fovea, three cone types, and the cone precursor’s proliferative response to RB1 loss. Prior droplet-based single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets have not clearly defined cone precursor developmental states or gene expression patterns. To further elucidate photoreceptor developmental trajectories, we FACS-enriched cone and rod precursors and retinal progenitor cells from eighteen Fetal Week 13-19 retina and performed deep, full-length scRNA-seq. These data were used to evaluate post-mitotic photoreceptor precursor trajectories, accompanying gene expression changes, and cone-specific features that drive the cone precursor proliferative response. Retinal progenitor cells and photoreceptor precursors were FACS-enriched from dissociated human fetal retinae and single cells either directly sorted or collected by microfluidics isolation, followed by SMART-seq based scRNA-seq.