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Updated: May 25, 2026
12:54
Real-time Analysis of Transcription Factor Binding, Transcription, Translation, and Turnover to Display Global Events During Cellular Activation
Published on: March 7, 2018
Abrupt and dynamic changes in gene expression revealed by live cell arrays
Maureen A Walling1, Hua Shi, Jason R E Shepard
1Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, Albany, New York 12222, United States.
Analytical Chemistry
|February 14, 2012
Summary
Researchers developed an RNA-based activator to precisely measure gene expression noise. This tool revealed that nearly half of cells exhibit protein bursts, offering a clearer view of cellular variability.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Systems Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Gene expression involves complex transcription and translation processes.
- Stochasticity in these processes leads to significant variations in protein levels within cellular populations.
- Understanding cellular noise is crucial for deciphering gene regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer an RNA-based transcriptional activator for precise measurement of gene expression noise.
- To quantitatively characterize the efficiency of transcription and translation processes.
- To provide a cleaner, more detailed portrayal of cellular noise.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a rationally designed RNA-based transcriptional activator.
- Utilizing a lacZ reporter gene in yeast cells.
- Employing single-cell array techniques for real-time, simultaneous monitoring of individual cells.
Main Results:
- The RNA-based activator functions comparably to natural transcription activators.
- Live cell arrays enabled temporal characterization of cell populations at the single-cell level.
- Nearly half (47%) of cells exhibited protein bursting behavior, occurring randomly in timing and size.
Conclusions:
- The developed activator effectively reduces variables, enabling a more accurate characterization of cellular noise.
- Distinct behaviors were observed in cells on the periphery of activity compared to the majority population.
- Variable cellular activities within a population are essential for accurate population-level characterization.
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