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Updated: May 9, 2026

Real-time Imaging of Single Engineered RNA Transcripts in Living Cells Using Ratiometric Bimolecular Beacons
Published on: August 6, 2014
Imaging of endogenous RNA using genetically encoded probes
Takeaki Ozawa1, Yoshio Umezawa
1Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, and Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Imaging of RNAs in single cells revealed their localized transcription and specific function. Such information cannot be obtained from bulk measurements. This unit contains a protocol of an imaging method capable of visualizing endogenous RNAs bound to genetically encoded fluorescent probes in single living cells. The protocol includes methods of design and construction of the probes, their characterization, and imaging a target RNA in living cells. The methods for RNA imaging are generally applicable to many kinds of RNAs and may allow for elucidating novel functions of localized RNAs and understanding their dynamics in living cells. Curr. Protoc. Chem. Biol. 3:27-37 © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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