Our chromatin-mapping basics series focuses on ChIP-seq, CUT&RUN, and CUT&Tag. Each blog reviews the protocol, considerations for experimental design, and key optimization steps. But how do you decide which strategy is best for your experiment? Here we will provide guidance on how to select the best assay based on EpiCypher’s experiences in the lab.
ChIP-seq vs. CUT&RUN vs. CUT&Tag: Which should you use?
Table of Contents
Our ChIP-seq blog thoroughly reviews the disadvantages of ChIP (Figure 1), including:
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- Requires millions of cells – Can’t profile rare cell types or clinical samples, limits the number of targets you can profile
- Several technically challenging steps that require optimization – Cross-linking, chromatin fragmentation, and immunoprecipitation (IP)
Note: All these steps introduce variability and sequencing artifacts, making ChIP inherently noisy
- Time consuming protocol – Takes ~ 1 week to perform ChIP-seq experiment (cells to loading on sequencer), even with an optimized protocol
- Requires high sequencing depths – ChIP typically requires 20-40 million reads per library for sufficient signal over background
- Poor data quality and reliability – High background and low and/or variable yields
- Low throughput – Time-intensive protocol combined with high sequencing costs and cell input requirements limit ChIP to small-scale applications
Despite these challenges, ChIP-seg was the best chromatin mapping technology available for decades, and is widely used in the field. However, newer strategies, including CUTANA™ CUT&RUN and CUT&Tag assays, address these problems and provide an attractive alternative to ChIP-seq (Figure 1).
Figure 1: ChIP-seq fails the major requirements for chromatin mapping assays, but historically was the best option available. CUTANA™ CUT&RUN and CUT&Tag assays provide a new approach for high-resolution chromatin profiling. Created with BioRender.com.
CUT&Tag and CUT&RUN share many advantages in comparison to ChIP-seq. Both assays selectively target antibody-bound chromatin in intact nuclei or cells, without cross-linking, fragmentation, or IP, providing high quality profiles with low background and exquisite reliability. These same advantages also make CUTANA CUT&RUN and CUT&Tag strategies much faster than ChIP-seq and enables the use of lower cell inputs and reduced sequencing depths.
Are you sure I shouldn’t use ChIP-seq? Q&A
Scientific methods are continually evolving. This is particularly true in the epigenomics space, which has seen rapid technological growth and expansion over the past decade1-4. Despite the clear advantages of CUTANA™ assays, many researchers are hesitant to make the switch from ChIP-seq.
Adherence to outdated methods when improved strategies are readily available can delay publication and limit the impact of your research. Here we will address the most common concerns from scientists that transition from ChIP-seq to CUTANA™ CUT&RUN assays.
I’m studying a transiently interacting protein, which requires cross-linking to stabilize target localization on chromatin. Isn’t ChIP-seq my best option?
CUT&RUN works for every target class we have tested – including transcription factors – typically under native conditions (see Figure 3 below). This allows you to generate clean data, free from the high background, sequencing artifacts and variable IP efficiency associated with heavy cross-linking.
If desired, CUTANA assays are compatible with light to moderate cross-linking conditions (Figure 2). However, the heavy fixation strategies required for ChIP-seq should NOT be applied in CUT&RUN (or CUT&Tag).
Figure 2: Genome-wide enrichment is preserved across sample processing conditions in CUT&RUN. Heatmaps show CUT&RUN H3K4me3 signal at transcription start sites (TSS) using fresh, frozen, or cross-linked K562 cells or fresh nuclei. Gene rows are aligned across conditions, with red indicating high H3K4me3 enrichment.
I’m trying to compare my results to existing ChIP-seq data – I need to continue doing ChIP-seq, right?
Although ChIP-seq and CUT&RUN are distinct protocols, the raw sequencing data are similar, and are processed and visualized using the same tools. Comparing these data sets is straightforward and has been published multiple times in peer-reviewed studies5-8. Furthermore, analysis of ChIP-seq and CUT&RUN data from the same cell line and target show high concordance8. The main difference is that CUT&RUN data have much lower background and require 10-fold fewer cells and sequencing reads.
I already have a good ChIP-seq protocol and/or antibody that works – shouldn’t I stick with it?
Even the best ChIP-seq protocols require more time, cells, and sequencing compared to CUT&RUN. In addition, ChIP-seq is inherently low-throughput, expensive, and has high background – problems that are fully addressed by our CUTANA™ CUT&RUN assay workflow. CUT&RUN also requires minimal optimization for most targets and cell types, in stark contrast to the labor-intensive development of target and tissue-specific cross-linking, fragmentation, and IP conditions for ChIP-seq.
What about my antibody? It works so well in ChIP!
Antibody performance is not a good justification for selecting ChIP-seq. ChIP-grade antibodies are notoriously unreliable, especially for histone PTMs9. EpiCypher found that over 70% of antibodies to histone lysine methylation and acylation PTMs display unacceptable cross-reactivity and/or target efficiency (chromatinantibodies.com). This includes highly cited antibodies for H3K4me3, H3K9me3, H3K27ac, and H3K27me3 – some of the most well-studied marks in chromatin biology. Non-histone PTM targets, such as transcription factors, face similar challenges.
Note: EpiCypher has begun validating antibodies specifically for CUT&RUN applications. Our collection includes antibodies to histone PTMs, transcription factors, chromatin remodeling enzymes, reader proteins, writer enzymes, and more. Check out the list here and subscribe for updates!
You can’t sequence input samples in CUT&RUN (or CUT&Tag). How will I determine enrichment and/or examine nonspecific background?
We recommend running a negative control reaction using an antibody to IgG. IgG is an excellent control for monitoring background and/or nonspecific signal in open chromatin.
To call peaks and determine enrichment, EpiCypher routinely uses MACS210 and SICER11, peak calling programs for ChIP-seq that work well for CUT&RUN12. SICER can be adjusted for analysis of sharp enrichment peaks (e.g. H3K4me3) vs. broad areas of enrichment (e.g. H3K27me3)13. Other options include SEACR14, a peak caller designed for CUT&RUN data, and the CUT&RUNTools 2.0 pipeline, which is designed for CUT&RUN and CUT&Tag data, including analysis of single cells15. It is recommended to test several programs and select the one that faithfully represents the target of interest. See the CUTANA™ CUT&RUN Kit Manual (FAQs section) for more information.
CUT&RUN is the ideal assay for most epigenomic mapping experiments. It provides a good balance between cell requirements, target compatibility (Figure 3), throughput, and sequencing costs. The protocol is simple enough to be adapted in both new and expert-level labs and is made even easier with the development of CUTANA™ CUT&RUN Kits.
Below we outline the advantages of CUT&RUN vs. ChIP-seq, step-by-step. We also include comparisons with CUT&Tag where appropriate.
- High-resolution data for diverse targets: CUT&RUN is compatible with histone PTMs and chromatin-associated proteins, including transcription factors, epigenetic readers, writers, and erasers (Figure 3). CUT&RUN also generates robust profiles for chromatin remodeling enzymes, which have been difficult to profile using ChIP-seq – underscoring another key advantage of CUT&RUN.
Figure 3: CUTANA™ CUT&RUN assays generate robust profiles for diverse target classes using only 3-8 million sequencing reads per reaction. Each experiment was performed using the CUTANA™ CUT&RUN Kit and 500,000 K562 cells.
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- Low cell number requirements: While it is recommended to start with 500,000 cells, CUTANA CUT&RUN can generate high quality data down to 5,000 cells with no changes to the standard protocol, enabling analysis of more targets, rare cell types, and precious samples. CUT&RUN has been used to profile mouse and human primary cells16-20, patient-derived xenografts18,21, FACS-sorted cells20,22, immune cells23-26, and more.
Note: Although the cell input isn’t quite as low as CUT&Tag (see below), it still provides a major improvement over ChIP-seq and can accommodate most cell types.
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- Streamlined protocol: The CUTANA CUT&RUN Protocol allows users to go from starting cells to loading libraries on a sequencer in just 3 days. The protocol is also designed for use with multi-channel pipettors and 8-strip tubes, improving assay reproducibility and increasing throughput.
Note: CUT&Tag is a slightly faster assay, which may be an advantage in high-throughput applications. However, both CUT&RUN and CUT&Tag are automation-compatible18,27.
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- Reduced sequencing costs: Only 3-8 million sequencing reads are required for high quality profiles, allowing more samples to be multiplexed per sequencing run.
- User-friendly workflow with less optimization: As discussed above, CUT&RUN skips the most challenging parts of ChIP-seq (chromatin fragmentation, etc.) and requires less optimization. EpiCypher has made this process even easier with our CUTANA™ CUT&RUN Kit and CUT&RUN Library Prep Kits, providing an end-to-end solution for high quality chromatin mapping.
Note: In EpiCypher’s experience, CUT&RUN is easier to learn and troubleshoot compared to CUT&Tag, particularly when using our CUT&RUN assay kits and Library Prep kits. See more on this topic below.
CUT&Tag is best suited for scientists with broad technical expertise in chromatin mapping assays. CUT&Tag is NOT recommended if you are:
- New to epigenomic mapping assays
- A frequent ChIP-seq user trying out CUTANA chromatin mapping assays
- Trying to map a new target and/or use a new cell type
- Mapping low abundance targets, such as transcription factors and other chromatin-associated proteins
In each of these scenarios, EpiCypher suggests using CUT&RUN, which has a user-friendly protocol and generates reliable profiles for most targets and cell types. Below we describe relevant drawbacks of CUT&Tag, as well as ideal applications that highlight the core advantages of this exciting technology.
CUT&Tag is more technically challenging vs. CUT&RUN
Many researchers are excited to try CUTANA CUT&Tag for their chromatin mapping experiments, since the method skips traditional library prep steps and requires only 100,000 nuclei for high-quality sequencing tracks. EpiCypher has further streamlined the CUT&Tag process with our exclusive Direct-to-PCR strategy, which allows users to go from cells to PCR amplified libraries in one tube5,28.
However, in EpiCypher’s experience, CUT&Tag assays require more practiced hands to generate robust chromatin profiles. The reduced cell input makes CUT&Tag highly sensitive to errors in assay setup and/or sample prep, ConA bead loss, and nonspecific antibodies. In addition, CUT&Tag often requires optimization and thorough knowledge of troubleshooting tactics.
For example, a common problem reported by scientists using the CUTANA™ Direct-to-PCR CUT&Tag Protocol is low or no yields following indexing PCR. Troubleshooting these concerns is far from straightforward, as there are many potential causes for reduced yields:
- Too many nuclei (can inhibit indexing PCR)
- Poor sample prep and/or too few nuclei
- Sample loss due to ConA bead dry-out
- Low abundance target, such as a transcription factor
- Poor antibody specificity and/or efficiency
CUT&Tag is also prone to higher read duplication rates (vs. CUT&RUN) and may exhibit background signal in open chromatin regions. For these reasons, we recommend CUT&RUN for most users.
CUT&Tag is not for all targets
Currently, CUTANA™ CUT&Tag is recommended for mapping histone PTMs (Figure 4) and select transcription factors (i.e. CTCF). EpiCypher does not recommend using CUT&Tag to map chromatin-associated proteins, which often are often weakly bound to chromatin and stripped during high-salt CUT&Tag washes. This is a major drawback of the assay, and one of the reasons we continue to suggest CUT&RUN for most users.
Note: In ChIP, samples are cross-linked to stabilize proteins on chromatin, which allows the use of stringent high-salt wash buffers. Although CUT&Tag is compatible with light to moderate cross-linking, these conditions severely reduce assay yields. Instead, EpiCypher recommends mapping protein targets in CUT&RUN using native samples.
Figure 4: CUTANA™ CUT&Tag is ideal for mapping histone PTMs. Results were generated using 100,000 K562 nuclei and 3-8 million reads per reaction.
CUT&Tag is ideal for ultra-low cell numbers and specialized applications
Despite the caveats outlined above, many projects are well-suited for CUT&Tag. CUT&Tag was purposely designed for chromatin mapping from small numbers of cells, providing a complementary technology to CUT&RUN5,6. The original paper tested its application for single cell profiling6, and additional modifications to the technique have increased the sensitivity of CUT&Tag for single cell epigenomics.
Why is CUTANA™ CUT&Tag ideal for low input applications?
- Tn5 tagmentation eliminates traditional cross-linking, chromatin fragmentation, IP, and library prep steps, reducing hands-on time and maximizing target recovery. When trying to map from ultra-low or single cells, it is crucial to minimize processing steps. In CUT&Tag, pAG-Tn5 inserts sequencing adapters at antibody-bound chromatin in intact nuclei, removing the most time-consuming steps of ChIP-seq.
- EpiCypher’s exclusive Direct-to-PCR CUT&Tag protocol streamlines this process by allowing you to go from cells to PCR amplified DNA libraries in one tube5,28. Each time cells/DNA are washed, transferred to a new tube, or purified between steps, you risk losing material. Our unique approach requires a single DNA purification step and can be completed in just two days.
- Enables complex and/or custom multiplexing strategies, such as combinatorial indexing29-32. These approaches increase the number of individual cells that can be uniquely barcoded in a single experiment, which is key for single cell profiling. EpiCypher offers an uncharged pAG-Tn5 for researchers using or developing new CUT&Tag barcoding strategies.
The preferred input for the CUTANA™ CUT&Tag Protocol is 100,000 nuclei, but comparable data can be generated down to 1,000 nuclei for select targets (Figure 5). Since the lowest validated input for CUTANA CUT&RUN Assays is 5,000 cells, CUTANA CUT&Tag provides a unique advantage for researchers pushing the boundaries of ultra-sensitive epigenomics27,29-35.
Note: Single cell CUT&Tag data have been published using CUTANA™ pAG-Tn533, but our current CUT&Tag protocol is not validated for single cell mapping.
Figure 5: CUT&Tag generates robust profiles for low abundance (H3K4me3) and high abundance (H3K27me3) histone PTMs using as few as 1,000 cells. Data were generated using the CUTANA™ CUT&Tag Protocol and K562 cells.
Choose your chromatin mapping assay
Here is a quick checklist for helping you pick the best assay for your project:
- Don’t use ChIP-seq
- Consider CUT&RUN the go-to chromatin mapping assay, flexible for many targets, cell types, and cell processing conditions. Use CUT&RUN if you can harvest 5,000 to 500,000 cells per reaction and are:
- New to chromatin mapping and/or CUTANA™ technologies
- Mapping a new target and/or using a new cell type
- CUT&Tag is the expert-level assay for innovative low cell applications. It is NOT ideal for beginners. Note:
- CUT&Tag is strictly recommended for profiling histone PTMs
- These experiments often require more optimization than CUT&RUN
- The CUTANA™ CUT&Tag Protocol requires 1,000 to 100,000 cells per reaction.
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