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Updated: Feb 19, 2026
Real-time Imaging of Single Engineered RNA Transcripts in Living Cells Using Ratiometric Bimolecular Beacons
Published on: August 6, 2014
Imaging Translation Dynamics of Single mRNA Molecules in Live Cells
Suzan Ruijtenberg1, Tim A Hoek1, Xiaowei Yan2
1Hubrecht Institute, KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584, CT, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
mRNA translation is a key step in decoding the genetic information stored in DNA. Regulation of translation efficiency contributes to gene expression control and is therefore important for cell fate and function. Here, we describe a recently developed microscopy-based method that allows for visualization of translation of single mRNAs in live cells. The ability to measure translation dynamics of single mRNAs will enable a better understanding of spatiotemporal control of translation, and will provide unique insights into translational heterogeneity of different mRNA molecules in single cells.
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