Protocol for purifying and sequencing cell subpopulations based on RNA FISH signal in planaria

Isolation and characterization of rare cell types in non-model organisms present a challenge. Here, we provide a protocol to purify specific cells from planaria for downstream RNA sequencing. We employ a one-step dissociation and fixation method that avoids RNA-degrading formaldehyde. We label cells using RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (RNA FISH) and flow sort to enrich sequencing reads from cells of interest for deeper biological insight.