A research team from Harvard University and the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research has developed a new Perturb-Multi technology that can simultaneously measure gene expression and cellular structural changes. This study, published in the journal Cell, was led by Professor Jonathan Weissman and Professor Xiaowei Zhuang, providing a new tool for understanding organ function.

The Perturb-Multi technology can test hundreds of gene modifications within a single mouse liver while obtaining multiple data types from the same cell. "This approach allows us to test multiple gene functions simultaneously and measure various cellular features," said Professor Xiaowei Zhuang. Compared with traditional methods, the new technology eliminates individual variability and improves research accuracy.

Using this technology, the research team identified three distinct mechanisms of fat accumulation in hepatocytes and discovered new regulatory factors for liver cell zonation. "Imaging shows which genes influence fat accumulation, while sequencing reveals the specific mechanisms," explained researcher Reuben Saunders. These findings offer new therapeutic targets for liver disease.