Xenium Analyzer

About the 10x Genomics Xenium Analyzer

The 10x Genomics Xenium Analyzer is a state-of-the-art platform for in situ spatial genomics, enabling high-throughput mapping of RNA targets at subcellular resolution directly in tissue sections. By precisely identifying the location of hundreds to thousands of RNA molecules within their native morphological context, the Xenium platform empowers researchers to uncover novel cellular interactions, characterize complex tissue microenvironments, and gain deeper insights into cellular structure and function.

This technology is ideal for exploring the intricate cellular architecture and gene expression patterns that drive development, disease, and response to therapy.

Key Features & Capabilities

• High-Plex Gene Expression: Analyze custom or pre-designed panels of up to 5,000 RNA targets simultaneously in a single tissue section.
• Subcellular Resolution: Pinpoint the location of individual RNA transcripts with high precision, allowing for detailed analysis of expression within cellular and subcellular compartments.
• Broad Sample Compatibility: Optimized for use with both fresh frozen (FF) and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from a wide range of species.
• Non-destructive Workflow: The Xenium assay preserves the tissue sample, allowing for subsequent analysis with other methods like H&E staining or immunofluorescence (IF) on the same slide.
• High-Throughput & Automation: The platform is fully automated, providing a streamlined workflow from sample loading to data generation, ensuring high reproducibility and fast turnaround times.
• Integrated Data Analysis: Comes with a powerful suite of software tools, including the Xenium Explorer, for intuitive visualization, clustering, and analysis of complex spatial data.

How It Works

The Xenium Analyzer utilizes a highly specific and sensitive chemistry based on targeted probes and padlock probe ligation.

1. Probe Hybridization: A panel of gene-specific circular DNA probes is hybridized to the RNA molecules within the tissue section.
    
2. Signal Amplification: A rolling circle amplification process generates a large, easy-to-detect signal (a “rolony”) at the precise location of each targeted transcript.
    
3. Sequential Imaging: The instrument performs multiple cycles of fluorescent probe ligation, imaging, and cleavage. In each cycle, a different set of barcodes is read out, allowing the system to decode the identity and location of thousands of genes across the entire tissue section.

This robust method provides high-quality data with exceptional specificity and sensitivity, all while preserving the integrity of the tissue architecture.

Applications & Research Areas

The detailed spatial context provided by the Xenium platform is transforming research in numerous fields, including:

• Oncology: Deeply profile the tumor microenvironment, identify distinct tumor and immune cell populations, and map cell-cell interactions.
• Neuroscience: Characterize the cellular organization of complex brain structures, map neural circuits, and study gene expression changes in neurological disorders.
• Immunology: Analyze the spatial arrangement of immune cells in healthy and diseased tissues, defining states of immune activation or suppression.
• Developmental Biology: Trace cell fate and lineage specification by observing gene expression patterns during tissue and organ development.

Getting Started with the Xenium Analyzer at Our Core

We are excited to help you incorporate this powerful technology into your research. To begin a project, please follow these steps:

1. Project Consultation: We strongly recommend a consultation with core staff before starting your first Xenium experiment. We can provide guidance on experimental design, panel selection, and sample preparation best practices. Please use the main Contact Us page to schedule a meeting.
2. Sample Preparation: Ensure your samples meet the required quality standards for FF or FFPE tissue.
3. Submit Your Samples: When you are ready to proceed, please use the submission form linked below.

• Open Xenium Slide Submission Form