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Reporter Genes

Reporter Genes

Reporter genes are a type of protein-coding gene that are often tagged to a gene of interest. Once inside a target cell, reporter genes usually produce visually identifiable characteristics like fluorescence and luminescence when expressed along with the gene of interest. Thus, reporter genes “report” the presence or absence of genes of interest in an organism, determine the gene expression pattern, or track the physical location of a DNA segment or protein in the cell.

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Updated: Oct 23, 2025

Real-time Imaging of Single Engineered RNA Transcripts in Living Cells Using Ratiometric Bimolecular Beacons

Real-time Imaging of Single Engineered RNA Transcripts in Living Cells Using Ratiometric Bimolecular Beacons

Published on: August 6, 2014

Genetically Encoded Sensor Enables Endogenous RNA Imaging with Conformation-Switching Induced Fluorogenic Proteins.

Wen-Jing Zhou¹, Hua Li¹, Ke-Ke Zhang¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|August 25, 2021

Summary

We developed a novel genetically encoded sensor for live cell imaging of endogenous RNAs. This system enables multicolor and amplified imaging of RNA dynamics, advancing biomedical research.

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Cell Biology
Biotechnology

Background:

Genetically encoded molecular tools are essential for live cell RNA imaging.
Limited tools exist for endogenous RNA imaging in live cells.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a novel genetically encoded sensor for multicolor and signal-amplified imaging of endogenous RNAs in live cells.

Main Methods:

Engineered a sensor using conformation-switching RNA-induced fluorogenic proteins.
Designed an RNA sensing module fused to a degron-fluorescent protein reporter.
Demonstrated imaging of survivin mRNA and MALAT-1 lncRNA dynamics.

Main Results:

Achieved high-contrast imaging of survivin mRNA abundance and dynamics.
Extended the sensor to a multicolor palette and signal amplification.
Visualized MALAT-1 lncRNA translocation during mitosis.

Conclusions:

The developed sensor system provides a valuable platform for endogenous RNA imaging.
Enables multicolor and amplified imaging for biomedical research and clinical theranostics.