Pseudotimecascade visualizes gene expression cascade in pseudotime analysis

Abstract

Single-cell transcriptomic technologies enable the reconstruction of dynamic biological processes such as cell development and differentiation. While existing pseudotime methods allow the analysis of temporal expression patterns, they primarily focus on individual genes, overlooking the coordinated programs that drive cellular transitions. We introduce Pseudotimecascade, a tool for visualizing and comparing multi-gene expression cascades along pseudotime. In addition, it links these cascades to biological functions by identifying stage-specific pathways. Applied to hematopoietic stem cell differentiation, Pseudotimecascade highlights regulatory hierarchies and stage-specific processes, offering a deeper understanding of gene programs that govern cell fate decisions. The Pseudotimecascade package is freely available at https://github.com/changxinw/Pseudotimecascade.