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Updated: May 9, 2026
12:20
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.
Current Protocols in Chemical Biology
|July 10, 2013
Summary
Visualize RNA in single cells using fluorescent probes. This method reveals RNA localization and function, overcoming limitations of bulk measurements for deeper biological insights.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Bulk measurements obscure localized RNA transcription and function within single cells.
- Understanding RNA dynamics requires single-cell resolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a protocol for visualizing endogenous RNAs in single living cells.
- To enable the study of RNA localization, function, and dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Design and construction of genetically encoded fluorescent probes for RNA binding.
- Characterization of these fluorescent probes.
- Imaging of target RNAs in living cells using the developed probes.
Main Results:
- Successful visualization of endogenous RNAs within single living cells.
- Demonstration of a generally applicable method for RNA imaging.
- Potential for elucidating novel functions of localized RNAs.
Conclusions:
- This protocol facilitates the study of RNA localization and dynamics at the single-cell level.
- The method offers a powerful tool for discovering new RNA functions.
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