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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Optimized Quantitative Assessment of Enhancer RNA Stability in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: November 21, 2025
In vivo analysis of mRNA stability using the Tet-Off system in the chicken embryo
Valérie Hilgers1, Olivier Pourquié, Julien Dubrulle
1Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000E 50th, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA.
Abstract:
The rate of mRNA degradation plays an important role in the control of gene expression. The mRNA stability is mainly dependent on cis-regulatory elements contained in the 3' or 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the mature mRNAs, and its regulation is an efficient way to adapt the level of a given transcript in the cell. Although this process has been well studied in cell culture, little is known about mRNA stability during embryonic development. Here, we describe an assay that combines the tetracyclin-dependent inducible system Tet-Off with in ovo electroporation to monitor mRNA stability in the chick neural tube. We show, by using the GFP intensity as an indirect reporter system, that the 3'UTR of Lunatic Fringe strongly destabilizes transcripts, while transcripts bearing the 3'UTR of Fgf8 are much more stable. This simple assay provides a powerful tool to study mRNA dynamics in vivo.
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