Leveraging the power of long reads for targeted sequencing

Table 1.

Summary of currently available targeted long-read sequencing approaches

Method DNA input mass per run/prep Max. number of targets per run Max. read length Approx. depth per run/prepa Platform compatibility Time
Long-range PCR
∼10 ng ∼1000 ∼10 kb 10–1000× ONT, PB ++
Notes: Low cost, fast, removes base modifications, methylation marks not preserved
Hybridization methods
1 µg ∼20 k 10 kb 10–1000× ONT, PB +++
Notes: Probes are expensive, removes base modifications, methylation marks not preserved
CRISPR-Cas9-based approaches
CATCH 2.75 × 105–1.5 × 106 cells <10, fewer if targets are of varied sizes 200 kb–1 Mb 50–400× ONT, PB +++
Notes: In-gel cell lysis and targeting, gives low yield for downstream sequencing, methylation marks preserved
nCATS 3–10 µg ≤25, Min. 4 crRNA guides/target, Max. 100 guides/rxn. 30 kb 20–850× ONT ++
Notes: No background reduction, limited multiplexing options, methylation marks preserved
Single-ended cut 1–5 µg (10 ng with WGA) <10, depends on breakpoint/repeat/fusion size 30 kb 10–150× ONT ++
Notes: Not suited for background reduction or tiling, limited multiplexing options, methylation marks preserved
Negative enrichment/CaBagE 1–10 µg ≤25, Min. 4 crRNA guides/target, Max. 100 guides/rxn. 35 kb 40–400× ONT +++
Notes: Background reduction does not translate to higher coverage, not suited for single-ended cut, limited multiplexing options, methylation marks preserved
ACME 5–20 µg ≤25, Min. 4 crRNA guides/target, Max. 100 guides/rxn. 100 kb 35–1000× ONT ++
Notes: Not suited for single-ended cut, limited multiplexing options, higher input mass required, methylation marks preserved
PureTarget 2 µg per sample 20 genes in the predesigned panel 15 kb 50–200× PB +++
Notes: Limited to predesigned repeat expansion targets, methylation marks preserved
Adaptive sampling
readfish, UNCALLED, ONT built-in, BOSS-RUNS 1–5 µg Min. 0.1%
Max. 10% of genome size, 1%–5% optimal
Dependent on input DNA size. 4 kb–10 kb Dependent on target size relative to genome. 10–100× ONT +
Notes: Requires shearing, not effective on reads <3000 bp, needs many targets, methylation marks preserved
  • (PB) Pacific Biosciences, (ONT) Oxford Nanopore Technologies, (WGA) whole-genome amplification.

  • + 1–4 h; ++ 4–8 h; +++ >1 day of preparation.

  • aCoverage is highly dependent on the number/length of targets, level of multiplexing, and the type of sequencing run used. These numbers are approximate based on current use cases.

This Article

  1. Genome Res. 34: 1701-1718

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