Current techniques for visualizing RNA in cells
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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Real-time Imaging of Single Engineered RNA Transcripts in Living Cells Using Ratiometric Bimolecular Beacons
Published on: August 6, 2014
Lilith V J C Mannack1, Sebastian Eising2, Andrea Rentmeister1
1Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Cells in Motion, Cluster of Excellence, Münster, Germany.
Abstract:
Labeling RNA is of utmost interest, particularly in living cells, and thus RNA imaging is an emerging field. There are numerous methods relying on different concepts ranging from hybridization-based probes, over RNA-binding proteins to chemo-enzymatic modification of RNA. These methods have different benefits and limitations. This review aims to outline the current state-of-the-art techniques and point out their benefits and limitations.
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