Methods and systems for processing polynucleotides

A method for analyte characterization, comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of partitions, wherein a partition of said plurality of partitions comprises a plurality of barcode molecules and a plurality of analytes, wherein said plurality of barcode molecules is coupled to a bead, wherein (i) a first individual barcode molecule of said plurality of barcode molecules comprises a first nucleic acid barcode sequence and is capable of coupling to a first analyte of said plurality of analytes, and (ii) a second individual barcode molecule of said plurality of barcode molecules comprises a second nucleic acid barcode sequence and is capable of coupling to a second analyte of said plurality of analytes, wherein said first analyte and said second analyte are different types of analytes;
• and
• (b) in said partition,
• (i) using at least a portion of said first individual barcode molecule and said first analyte to synthesize a first nucleic acid molecule comprising (1) at least a portion of said first nucleic acid barcode sequence or a complement of said portion of said first nucleic acid barcode sequence and (2) a first sequence of said first analyte or a complement of said first sequence;
• and
• (ii) using at least a portion of said second individual barcode molecule and said second analyte to synthesize a second nucleic acid molecule comprising (1) at least a portion of said second nucleic acid barcode sequence or a complement of said portion of said second nucleic acid barcode sequence and (2) a second sequence of said second analyte or a complement of said second sequence;
• and
• (c) removing or releasing said first nucleic acid molecule and said second nucleic acid molecule from said partition,
• wherein, after (a), said first individual barcode molecule or said second individual barcode molecule is released from said bead.