Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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.

Protein Dynamics in Living Cells

Protein Dynamics in Living Cells

Different fluorescence-based techniques are used to study the protein dynamics in living cells. These techniques include FRAP, FRET, and PET.
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

An epifluorescence microscope design for naturalistic behavior and cellular activity in freely moving Caenorhabditis elegans.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Neural sequences underlying directed turning in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Nature neuroscience·2026

Same author

Reframing healthcare workplace violence: Compassion without complacency.

Journal of hospital medicine·2026

Same author

Perspectives on increasing corporate ownership and unionization in hospital medicine: An exploratory mixed methods study.

Journal of hospital medicine·2026

Same author

The impact of rearing environment on C. elegans: phenotypic, transcriptomic and intergenerational responses to 3D enriched habitats.

Biology open·2026

Same author

The impact of rearing environment on <i>C. elegans</i>: Phenotypic, transcriptomic and intergenerational responses to 3D enriched habitats.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Same journal

Mapping the 3D Chromosome Organization of a Biosynthetic Gene Cluster by Capture Hi-C (CHi-C).

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2026

Same journal

Mapping the 3D Chromosome Organization of Streptomyces by Hi-C.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2026

Same journal

CUT&Tag Epigenomic Profiling of Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2026

Same journal

Rhizobium rhizogenes-Mediated Hairy Root Transformation Protocol for Lotus japonicus and Other Legumes.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2026

Same journal

Characterization of Bioactive Saponins from Sea Cucumbers.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2026

Same journal

Methods for Functional Validation of Terpenoid Metabolic Clusters in Nicotiana benthamiana and Aspergillus oryzae.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 29, 2025

Quantification of Efferocytosis by Single-cell Fluorescence Microscopy

Quantification of Efferocytosis by Single-cell Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: August 18, 2018

Observing and Quantifying Fluorescent Reporters.

Sreeparna Pradhan¹, Michael Hendricks²

¹Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)

|March 23, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This guide explains how to use fluorescence microscopy to observe genetically encoded fluorescent reporters in live Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) animals. It details essential microscope components for imaging physiological processes in intact worms.

Keywords:

Digital image analysis Fluorescent proteins Microscopy

More Related Videos

Internalization and Observation of Fluorescent Biomolecules in Living Microorganisms via Electroporation

Internalization and Observation of Fluorescent Biomolecules in Living Microorganisms via Electroporation

Published on: February 8, 2015

How to Quantify the Fraction of Photoactivated Fluorescent Proteins in Bulk and in Live Cells

How to Quantify the Fraction of Photoactivated Fluorescent Proteins in Bulk and in Live Cells

Published on: January 7, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 29, 2025

Quantification of Efferocytosis by Single-cell Fluorescence Microscopy

Quantification of Efferocytosis by Single-cell Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: August 18, 2018

Internalization and Observation of Fluorescent Biomolecules in Living Microorganisms via Electroporation

Internalization and Observation of Fluorescent Biomolecules in Living Microorganisms via Electroporation

Published on: February 8, 2015

How to Quantify the Fraction of Photoactivated Fluorescent Proteins in Bulk and in Live Cells

How to Quantify the Fraction of Photoactivated Fluorescent Proteins in Bulk and in Live Cells

Published on: January 7, 2019

Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Developmental Biology
Microscopy

Background:

Genetically encoded fluorescent reporters offer non-invasive in vivo observation of physiological processes.
The transparency of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is ideal for internal imaging.
Limited experience with fluorescence imaging can be a barrier for researchers.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a guide on essential microscope components for fluorescence imaging in live C. elegans.
To enable students and researchers with limited experience to observe and measure fluorescent proteins in intact animals.
To facilitate the study of physiological processes using live-animal imaging techniques.

Main Methods:

Discussion of basic microscope components required for fluorescence imaging.
Explanation of techniques for observing, imaging, and measuring fluorescent proteins.
Focus on live-animal observation in intact C. elegans.

Main Results:

Identification of key microscope hardware for successful fluorescence imaging in C. elegans.
Demonstration of how to utilize these components for data acquisition.
Establishment of a foundational understanding for fluorescence analysis in live worms.

Conclusions:

Basic fluorescence microscopy components are sufficient for in vivo imaging in C. elegans.
This guide empowers novice researchers to utilize fluorescence reporters effectively.
Non-invasive, in vivo observation of physiological processes in C. elegans is accessible with proper equipment and knowledge.