Techniques for following the movement of single RNAs in living cells

The ability to investigate gene expression has evolved from static approaches that analyze a population of cells to dynamic approaches that analyze individual living cells. During the last decade, a number of different fluorescent methods have been developed for monitoring the dynamics of single RNAs in living cells. Spatial-temporal analyses of single RNAs in living cells have provided novel insight into nuclear transport, RNA localization, and decay. Technical advances with these approaches allow for single molecule detection, providing an unprecedented view of RNA movement. In this article, we discuss the methods for observing single RNAs in living cells, highlighting the advantages and limitations of each method.