Single-cell functional pharmacogenomics reveal cell decision information within gene expression noise

Single HeLa cells were treated with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL, 25ng/ml, 50min) to determine their response profiles (“high” or “low”) by live-cell microscopy using a FRET sensor of capase-8 dynamics, a predictor of “cell death” or “cell survival”, respectively. Based on their response profile, cells were isolated by laser-capture microdissection and analyzed by single-cell RNA sequencing to determine the gene expression signature associated with their drug response profile. Overall design: Evaluation of two different drug response profiles in HeLa cells treated with TRAIL: “high” and “low” response profiles.