Low-cost high-resolution chromatin profiling with CUT&Tag

We recently introduced CUT&Tag, an epigenomic profiling strategy in which antibodies are bound to chromatin proteins in situ in permeabilized nuclei, and then used to tether the cut-and-paste transposase Tn5. Activation of the transposase simultaneously cleaves DNA and adds DNA sequencing adapters (“tagmentation”) for paired-end DNA sequencing. Here, we introduce a streamlined CUT&Tag protocol that suppresses exposure artifacts to ensure high-fidelity mapping of the antibody-targeted protein and improves signal-to-noise over current chromatin profiling methods. Streamlined CUT&Tag can be performed in a single PCR tube from cells to amplified libraries, providing low-cost high-resolution genome-wide chromatin maps. By simplifying library preparation, CUT&Tag requires less than a day at the bench from live cells to sequencing-ready barcoded libraries. Because of low background levels, barcoded and pooled CUT&Tag libraries can be sequenced for ~$25 per sample, enabling routine genome-wide profiling of chromatin proteins and modifications that requires no special skills or equipment. Overall design: We used Cleavage under targets and Tagmentation (Cut-and-Tag), a chromatin profiling strategy in which antibody-targeted controlled integration of DNA sequencing adapters produces libraries for paired-end DNA sequencing.