Detectrons convert transient RNA sequences into stable DNA barcodes for high-throughput analysis of RNA-dependent processes.

Detectrons convert transient RNA sequences into stable DNA barcodes, enabling high-throughput analysis of RNA-dependent processes in living cells.

• Why it matters: Current RNA sensors rely on protein or RNA outputs, limiting their use in multiplexed and sequencing-based applications, which hampers detailed analysis of RNA signals.
• What they did: The authors developed Detectrons, modular biosensors combining toehold switches with retron-mediated reverse transcription, and used machine learning to optimize their design with a library of synthetic toehold retrons.
• The result: Detectrons enable multiplexed live-cell detection of phage infections, transcript-triggered barcode synthesis, and quantitative host susceptibility profiling, offering a scalable approach for phage screening and transcriptional recording.