1
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Larkey NE, Phillips JL, Jang HS, Kolluri SK, Burrows SM. Small RNA Biosensor Design Strategy To Mitigate Off-Analyte Response. ACS Sens 2020; 5:377-384. [PMID: 31942801 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.9b01968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Several bottlenecks in the design of current sensor technologies for small noncoding RNA must be addressed. The small size of the sensors and the large number of other nucleotides that may have sequence similarity makes selectivity a real concern. Many of the current sensors have one strand with an exposed region called a toehold. The toehold serves as a place for the analyte nucleic acid strand to bind and initiate competitive displacement of sensors' secondary strands. Since the toehold region is not protected, any endogenous oligonucleotide sequences that are similar or only different by a few nucleic acids will interact with the toehold and cause false signals. To address sensor selectivity, we investigated how the toehold location in the sensor impacts the sensitivity and selectivity for the analyte of interest. We will discuss the differences in sensitivity and selectivity for a miR-146a-5p biosensor in the presence of different naturally occurring mismatch sequences. We found that altering the toehold location lowered the rate of the false signal from off-analyte microRNA by upward of 20 percentage points. Detection limits as low as 56 pM were observed when the sensor concentration was 5 nM. The findings herein are broadly applicable to other small and large RNAs as well as other types of sensing platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas E. Larkey
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 153 Gilbert Hall, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Jessica L. Phillips
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Cancer Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Hyo Sang Jang
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Cancer Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Siva K. Kolluri
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Cancer Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Sean M. Burrows
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 153 Gilbert Hall, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
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2
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Xiao M, Lai W, Man T, Chang B, Li L, Chandrasekaran AR, Pei H. Rationally Engineered Nucleic Acid Architectures for Biosensing Applications. Chem Rev 2019; 119:11631-11717. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mingshu Xiao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, P. R. China
| | - Wei Lai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, P. R. China
| | - Tiantian Man
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, P. R. China
| | - Binbin Chang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, P. R. China
| | - Li Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, P. R. China
| | - Arun Richard Chandrasekaran
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York 12222, United States
| | - Hao Pei
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, P. R. China
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3
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Kim SH, Vieira M, Shim JY, Choi H, Park HY. Recent progress in single-molecule studies of mRNA localization in vivo. RNA Biol 2019; 16:1108-1118. [PMID: 30336727 PMCID: PMC6693552 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2018.1536592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
From biogenesis to degradation, mRNA goes through diverse types of regulation and interaction with other biomolecules. Uneven distribution of mRNA transcripts and the diverse isoforms and modifications of mRNA make us wonder how cells manage the complexity and keep the functional integrity for the normal development of cells and organisms. Single-molecule microscopy tools have expanded the scope of RNA research with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution. In this review, we highlight the recent progress in the methods for labeling mRNA targets and analyzing the quantitative information from fluorescence images of single mRNA molecules. In particular, the MS2 system and its various applications are the main focus of this article. We also review how recent studies have addressed biological questions related to the significance of mRNA localization in vivo. Efforts to visualize the dynamics of single mRNA molecules in live cells will push forward our knowledge on the nature of heterogeneity in RNA sequence, structure, and distribution as well as their molecular function and coordinated interaction with RNA binding proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songhee H. Kim
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Melissa Vieira
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Youn Shim
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hongyoung Choi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye Yoon Park
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Applied Physics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
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4
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Feng X, Kang W, Wu X, Wang S, Liu F. Quantitative Detection and Real-Time Monitoring of Endogenous mRNA at the Single Live Cell Level Using a Ratiometric Molecular Beacon. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:28752-28761. [PMID: 31329405 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b12394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) plays an important role in various cellular processes. however, traditional techniques cannot realize mRNA detections in live cells as they rely on mRNA purification or cell fixation. To achieve real-time and quantitative mRNA detections at a single live cell level, a single-strand stem-loop-structured ratiometric molecular beacon (RMB) composed of the phosphorothioate-modified loop domain on the 2'-O-methyl RNA backbone with a reporter dye, quencher, and reference dye is proposed to detect the Hsp27 mRNA as a modeled endogenous mRNA. When the RMB hybridizes with the target, the stem-loop structure opens, causing separation of the reporter dye and the quencher and restores the reporter fluorescent signals; therefore, the Hsp27 mRNA can be quantitatively detected according to the ratio of the reporter fluorescent signal to the reference fluorescent signal. Both the phosphorothioate and 2'-O-methyl RNA modifications obviously reduce the nonspecific opening, and the additional reference dye ensures the detection precision using co-localization analysis. Not only does this remove the false-positive signal caused by the nuclease degradation-generated RMB fragment, but it also corrects variations caused by direct measurement of reporter fluorescence intensities at a single cell level owing to inhomogeneity in probe delivery. The designed RMB could detect the Hsp27 mRNA with high signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity as well as excellent specificity and antidegradation capability proved in vitro and in live cells. Furthermore, it was successfully adopted in subcellular localization, quantitative copy number measurements, and even real-time monitoring of Hsp27 mRNA in live cells, demonstrating that the proposed RMB can be a potential quantitative endogenous mRNA detection tool, especially at a single live cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufei Feng
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety & Single Molecule Nanometry Laboratory (Sinmolab) , Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing 210095 , China
| | - Wenjie Kang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety & Single Molecule Nanometry Laboratory (Sinmolab) , Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing 210095 , China
| | - Xuping Wu
- The Second Hospital of Nanjing , Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , Nanjing 210003 , China
| | - Shouyu Wang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety & Single Molecule Nanometry Laboratory (Sinmolab) , Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing 210095 , China
- Computational Optics Laboratory, School of Science , Jiangnan University , Wuxi , Jiangsu 214122 , China
| | - Fei Liu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety & Single Molecule Nanometry Laboratory (Sinmolab) , Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing 210095 , China
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5
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Wu X, Mao S, Yang Y, Rushdi MN, Krueger CJ, Chen AK. A CRISPR/molecular beacon hybrid system for live-cell genomic imaging. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:e80. [PMID: 29718399 PMCID: PMC6061827 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) gene-editing system has been repurposed for live-cell genomic imaging, but existing approaches rely on fluorescent protein reporters, making sensitive and continuous imaging difficult. Here, we present a fluorophore-based live-cell genomic imaging system that consists of a nuclease-deactivated mutant of the Cas9 protein (dCas9), a molecular beacon (MB), and an engineered single-guide RNA (sgRNA) harboring a unique MB target sequence (sgRNA-MTS), termed CRISPR/MB. Specifically, dCas9 and sgRNA-MTS are first co-expressed to target a specific locus in cells, followed by delivery of MBs that can then hybridize to MTS to illuminate the target locus. We demonstrated the feasibility of this approach for quantifying genomic loci, for monitoring chromatin dynamics, and for dual-color imaging when using two orthogonal MB/MTS pairs. With flexibility in selecting different combinations of fluorophore/quencher pairs and MB/MTS sequences, our CRISPR/MB hybrid system could be a promising platform for investigating chromatin activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.,School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Shiqi Mao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yantao Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Muaz N Rushdi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.,Wallace H Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Christopher J Krueger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.,Wallace H Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Antony K Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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6
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Chatterjee G, Chen YJ, Seelig G. Nucleic Acid Strand Displacement with Synthetic mRNA Inputs in Living Mammalian Cells. ACS Synth Biol 2018; 7:2737-2741. [PMID: 30441897 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.8b00288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Strand displacement reactions are widely used in DNA nanotechnology as a building block for engineering molecular computers and machines. Here, we demonstrate that strand displacement-based probes can be triggered by RNA expressed in mammalian cells, thus taking a step toward adapting the DNA nanotechnology toolbox to a cellular environment. We systematically compare different probe architectures in order to identify a design that works robustly in living cells. Our optimized strand displacement probe combines chemically modified nucleic acids that enhance stability to degradation by cellular nucleases with structural elements that improve probe retention in the cytoplasm. We visualize probe binding to individual mRNA carrying 96 repeats of a target sequence in the 3'UTR. We find that RNA counts based on live cell imaging using a strand displacement probe are comparable to counts from independent measurement based on fluorescence in situ hybridization experiments. We used probes with scrambled toeholds and scrambled binding domains to demonstrate that target recognition indeed occurs through toehold-mediated strand displacement. Our results demonstrate that strand displacement probes can work reliably in mammalian cells and lay the groundwork for future applications of such probes for live-cell imaging and molecular computing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gourab Chatterjee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, United States
| | - Yuan-Jyue Chen
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Georg Seelig
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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7
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Single-molecule analysis of endogenous β-actin mRNA trafficking reveals a mechanism for compartmentalized mRNA localization in axons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E9697-E9706. [PMID: 30254174 PMCID: PMC6187124 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1806189115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
De novo protein synthesis in neuronal axons plays important roles in neural circuit formation, maintenance, and disease. Key to the selectivity of axonal protein synthesis is whether an mRNA is present at the right place to be translated, but the mechanisms behind axonal mRNA localization remain poorly understood. In this work, we quantitatively analyze the link between axonal β-actin mRNA trafficking and its localization patterns. By developing a single-molecule approach to live-image β-actin mRNAs in axons, we explore the biophysical drivers behind β-actin mRNA motion and uncover a mechanism for generating increased density at the axon tip by differences in motor protein-driven transport speeds. These results provide mechanistic insight into the control of local translation through mRNA trafficking. During embryonic nervous system assembly, mRNA localization is precisely regulated in growing axons, affording subcellular autonomy by allowing controlled protein expression in space and time. Different sets of mRNAs exhibit different localization patterns across the axon. However, little is known about how mRNAs move in axons or how these patterns are generated. Here, we couple molecular beacon technology with highly inclined and laminated optical sheet microscopy to image single molecules of identified endogenous mRNA in growing axons. By combining quantitative single-molecule imaging with biophysical motion models, we show that β-actin mRNA travels mainly as single copies and exhibits different motion-type frequencies in different axonal subcompartments. We find that β-actin mRNA density is fourfold enriched in the growth cone central domain compared with the axon shaft and that a modicum of directed transport is vital for delivery of mRNA to the axon tip. Through mathematical modeling we further demonstrate that directional differences in motor-driven mRNA transport speeds are sufficient to generate β-actin mRNA enrichment at the growth cone. Our results provide insight into how mRNAs are trafficked in axons and a mechanism for generating different mRNA densities across axonal subcompartments.
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8
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Gaspar I, Hövelmann F, Chamiolo J, Ephrussi A, Seitz O. Quantitative mRNA Imaging with Dual Channel qFIT Probes to Monitor Distribution and Degree of Hybridization. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:742-749. [PMID: 29378392 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.7b01007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Fluorogenic oligonucleotide probes facilitate the detection and localization of RNA targets within cells. However, quantitative measurements of mRNA abundance are difficult when fluorescence signaling is based on intensity changes because a high concentration of unbound probes cannot be distinguished from a low concentration of target-bound probes. Here, we introduce qFIT (quantitative forced intercalation) probes that allow the detection both of probe-target complexes and of unbound probes on separate, independent channels. A surrogate nucleobase based on thiazole orange (TO) probes the hybridization status. The second channel involves a nonresponsive near-IR dye, which serves as a reporter of concentration. We show that the undesirable perturbation of the hybridization reporter TO is avoided when the near-IR dye Cy7 is connected by means of short triazole linkages in an ≥18 nucleotides distance. We used the qFIT probes to localize and quantify oskar mRNA in fixed egg chambers of wild-type and mutant Drosophila melanogaster by wash-free fluorescence in situ hybridization. The measurements revealed a relative 400-fold enrichment of oskar within a 3000 μm3 large volume at the posterior pole of stage 8-9 oocytes, which peaked at a remarkably high 1.8 μM local concentration inside 0.075 μm3 volume units. We discuss detection limits and show that the number of oskar mRNA molecules per oocyte is independent of the oocyte size, which suggests that the final levels are attained already during the onset of oskar localization at stage 8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imre Gaspar
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Hövelmann
- Institut für Chemie der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jasmine Chamiolo
- Institut für Chemie der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anne Ephrussi
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Seitz
- Institut für Chemie der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 12489 Berlin, Germany
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9
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Rossetti M, Porchetta A. Allosterically regulated DNA-based switches: From design to bioanalytical applications. Anal Chim Acta 2018; 1012:30-41. [PMID: 29475471 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2017.12.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 12/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
DNA-based switches are structure-switching biomolecules widely employed in different bioanalytical applications. Of particular interest are DNA-based switches whose activity is regulated through the use of allostery. Allostery is a naturally occurring mechanism in which ligand binding induces the modulation and fine control of a connected biomolecule function as a consequence of changes in concentration of the effector. Through this general mechanism, many different allosteric DNA-based switches able to respond in a highly controlled way at the presence of a specific molecular effector have been engineered. Here, we discuss how to design allosterically regulated DNA-based switches and their applications in the field of molecular sensing, diagnostic and drug release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Rossetti
- Chemistry Department, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Porchetta
- Chemistry Department, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy.
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10
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Abstract
Molecular beacons (MBs), a class of oligonucleotide-based probes, have enabled researchers to study various RNA molecules in their native live-cell contexts. However, it is also increasingly recognized that, when delivered into cells, MBs have the tendency to be sequestered into the nucleus where they may generate false positive signals. In an attempt to overcome this issue, MBs have been synthesized with chemically modified oligonucleotide backbones to confer greater biostability. Alternatively, strategies have been developed to minimize nuclear entry. In the latter approach, we have combined functional elements of MBs with functional elements of siRNAs that facilitate nuclear export to create a new RNA imaging platform called ratiometric bimolecular beacons (RBMBs). We showed that RBMBs exhibited long-term cytoplasmic retention, and hence a marginal level of false positive signals in living cells. Subsequent studies demonstrated that RBMBs could sensitively and accurately quantify mRNA transcripts engineered to contain multiple tandem repeats of an MB target sequence at the single-molecule level. In this chapter, we describe the synthesis of RBMBs and their applications for absolute quantification and tracking of single mRNA transcripts in cells.
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11
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Chen M, Ma Z, Wu X, Mao S, Yang Y, Tan J, Krueger CJ, Chen AK. A molecular beacon-based approach for live-cell imaging of RNA transcripts with minimal target engineering at the single-molecule level. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1550. [PMID: 28484218 PMCID: PMC5431543 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01740-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Analysis of RNA dynamics and localization at the single-molecule level in living cells has been predominantly achieved by engineering target RNAs with large insertions of tandem repeat sequences that are bound by protein-based or oligonucleotide-based fluorescent probes. Thus, individual RNAs are tagged by multiple fluorescent probes, making them detectable by fluorescence microscopy. Since large insertions may affect RNA processes including trafficking and localization, here we present a strategy to visualize single RNA transcripts in living cells using molecular beacons (MBs) - fluorogenic oligonucleotide probes - with minimal target engineering. The MBs are composed of 2′-O-methyl RNAs with a fully phosphorothioate-modified loop domain (2Me/PSLOOP MBs), an architecture that elicits marginal levels of nonspecific signals in cells. We showed that MBs can detect single transcripts containing as few as 8 target repeat sequences with ~90% accuracy. In both the nucleus and the cytoplasm, mRNAs harboring 8 repeats moved faster than those with 32 repeats, suggesting that intracellular activities are less impeded by smaller engineered insertions. We then report the first MB-based imaging of intracellular dynamics and localization of single long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). We envision the proposed minimally-engineered, MB-based technology for live-cell single-molecule RNA imaging could facilitate new discoveries in RNA research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Zhao Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiaotian Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Shiqi Mao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yantao Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jie Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Christopher J Krueger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Wallace H Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Antony K Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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12
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Ban K, Wile B, Cho KW, Kim S, Song MK, Kim SY, Singer J, Syed A, Yu SP, Wagner M, Bao G, Yoon YS. Non-genetic Purification of Ventricular Cardiomyocytes from Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells through Molecular Beacons Targeting IRX-4. Stem Cell Reports 2016; 5:1239-1249. [PMID: 26651608 PMCID: PMC4682289 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2015.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2014] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Isolation of ventricular cardiomyocytes (vCMs) has been challenging due to the lack of specific surface markers. Here we show that vCMs can be purified from differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) using molecular beacons (MBs) targeting specific intracellular mRNAs. We designed MBs (IRX4 MBs) to target mRNA encoding Iroquois homeobox protein 4 (Irx4), a transcription factor specific for vCMs. To purify mESC vCMs, IRX4 MBs were delivered into cardiomyogenically differentiating mESCs, and IRX4 MBs-positive cells were FACS-sorted. We found that, of the cells isolated, ∼98% displayed vCM-like action potentials by electrophysiological analyses. These MB-purified vCMs continuously maintained their CM characteristics as verified by spontaneous beating, Ca2+ transient, and expression of vCM-specific proteins. Our study shows the feasibility of isolating pure vCMs via cell sorting without modifying host genes. The homogeneous and functional ventricular CMs generated via the MB-based method can be useful for disease investigation, drug discovery, and cell-based therapies. Molecular beacon (MB)-based method was developed to purify ventricular CMs from ESCs Ventricular CM-specific MBs targeting Irx4 mRNA were successfully generated About 98% of the CMs sorted via Irx4-MB displayed ventricular CM-like phenotypes Irx4-MB-based purified CMs continuously maintained ventricular CM characteristics
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiwon Ban
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Brian Wile
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Kyu-Won Cho
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Sangsung Kim
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Ming-Ke Song
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Sang Yoon Kim
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jason Singer
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Anum Syed
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Shan Ping Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Mary Wagner
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Young-Sup Yoon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
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13
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Zhao D, Yang Y, Qu N, Chen M, Ma Z, Krueger CJ, Behlke MA, Chen AK. Single-molecule detection and tracking of RNA transcripts in living cells using phosphorothioate-optimized 2'-O-methyl RNA molecular beacons. Biomaterials 2016; 100:172-83. [PMID: 27261815 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Molecular Beacons (MBs) composed of 2'-O-methyl RNA (2Me) and phosphorothioate (PS) linkages throughout the backbone (2Me/PSFULL MBs) have enabled long-term imaging of RNA in living cells, but excess PS modification can induce nonspecific binding, causing false-positive signals. In this study, we evaluate the intracellular stability of MBs composed of 2Me with various PS modifications, and found that false-positive signals could be reduced to marginal levels when the MBs possess a fully PS-modified loop domain and a phosphodiester stem (2Me/PSLOOP MB). Additionally, 2Me/PSLOOP MBs exhibited uncompromised hybridization kinetics, prolonged functionality and >88% detection accuracy for single RNA transcripts, and could do so without interfering with gene expression or cell growth. Finally, 2Me/PSLOOP MBs could image the dynamics of single mRNA transcripts in the nucleus and the cytoplasm simultaneously, regardless of whether the MBs targeted the 5'- or the 3'-UTR. Together, these findings demonstrate the effectiveness of loop-domain PS modification in reducing nonspecific signals and the potential for sensitive and accurate imaging of individual RNAs at the single-molecule level. With the growing interest in the role of RNA localization and dynamics in health and disease, 2Me/PSLOOP MBs could enable new discoveries in RNA research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yantao Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Na Qu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Mingming Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Zhao Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Christopher J Krueger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Mark A Behlke
- Integrated DNA Technologies Inc., Coralville, IA, 52241, USA
| | - Antony K Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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14
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Larkey NE, Brucks CN, Lansing SS, Le SD, Smith NM, Tran V, Zhang L, Burrows SM. Molecular structure and thermodynamic predictions to create highly sensitive microRNA biosensors. Anal Chim Acta 2016; 909:109-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2015.12.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Revised: 12/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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15
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Chen YJ, Groves B, Muscat RA, Seelig G. DNA nanotechnology from the test tube to the cell. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 10:748-60. [PMID: 26329111 DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2015.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 417] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The programmability of Watson-Crick base pairing, combined with a decrease in the cost of synthesis, has made DNA a widely used material for the assembly of molecular structures and dynamic molecular devices. Working in cell-free settings, researchers in DNA nanotechnology have been able to scale up system complexity and quantitatively characterize reaction mechanisms to an extent that is infeasible for engineered gene circuits or other cell-based technologies. However, the most intriguing applications of DNA nanotechnology - applications that best take advantage of the small size, biocompatibility and programmability of DNA-based systems - lie at the interface with biology. Here, we review recent progress in the transition of DNA nanotechnology from the test tube to the cell. We highlight key successes in the development of DNA-based imaging probes, prototypes of smart therapeutics and drug delivery systems, and explore the future challenges and opportunities for cellular DNA nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Jyue Chen
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Benjamin Groves
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Richard A Muscat
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Georg Seelig
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
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16
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Giraldo-Vela JP, Kang W, McNaughton RL, Zhang X, Wile BM, Tsourkas A, Bao G, Espinosa HD. Single-cell detection of mRNA expression using nanofountain-probe electroporated molecular beacons. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2015; 11:2386-91. [PMID: 25641752 PMCID: PMC6016387 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201401137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
New techniques for single-cell analysis enable new discoveries in gene expression and systems biology. Time-dependent measurements on individual cells are necessary, yet the common single-cell analysis techniques used today require lysing the cell, suspending the cell, or long incubation times for transfection, thereby interfering with the ability to track an individual cell over time. Here a method for detecting mRNA expression in live single cells using molecular beacons that are transfected into single cells by means of nanofountain probe electroporation (NFP-E) is presented. Molecular beacons are oligonucleotides that emit fluorescence upon binding to an mRNA target, rendering them useful for spatial and temporal studies of live cells. The NFP-E is used to transfect a DNA-based beacon that detects glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and an RNA-based beacon that detects a sequence cloned in the green fluorescence protein mRNA. It is shown that imaging analysis of transfection and mRNA detection can be performed within seconds after electroporation and without disturbing adhered cells. In addition, it is shown that time-dependent detection of mRNA expression is feasible by transfecting the same single cell at different time points. This technique will be particularly useful for studies of cell differentiation, where several measurements of mRNA expression are required over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan P Giraldo-Vela
- iNfinitesimal LLC, Skokie, IL, 60077, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Wonmo Kang
- iNfinitesimal LLC, Skokie, IL, 60077, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Rebecca L McNaughton
- iNfinitesimal LLC, Skokie, IL, 60077, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Brian M Wile
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Andrew Tsourkas
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Horacio D Espinosa
- iNfinitesimal LLC, Skokie, IL, 60077, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
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17
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Kashida H, Osawa T, Morimoto K, Kamiya Y, Asanuma H. Molecular design of Cy3 derivative for highly sensitive in-stem molecular beacon and its application to the wash-free FISH. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:1758-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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18
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Molecular beacon-based detection and isolation of working-type cardiomyocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cells. Biomaterials 2015; 50:176-85. [PMID: 25736507 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.01.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Revised: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) provide a potential source of cells to repair injured ventricular myocardium. CM differentiation cultures contain non-cardiac cells and CMs of both nodal and working subtypes. Direct application of such cultures in clinical studies could induce arrhythmias; thus, further purification of working-type CMs from heterogeneous cultures is desirable. Here, we designed 10 molecular beacons (MBs) targeting NPPA mRNA, a marker associated with working-type CMs and highly up-regulated during differentiation. We examined these MBs by solution assays and established their specificity using NPPA-overexpressing CHO cells as well as hPSC-CMs. We selected one MB for subsequent CM subtype isolation using fluorescence-activated cell sorting because the signal-to-background ratio was the highest for this MB in solution assays and a linear correlation was observed between MB signals and the CM purity in differentiation cultures. Compared with cells with low MB signals, cells positively selected based on MB signal had higher expression levels of genes associated with working-type CMs and lower expression levels of genes associated with nodal-type CMs. Therefore, the MB-based method is capable of separating working-type CMs from nodal-type CMs with high specificity and throughput, potentially providing working-type CMs for biomedical applications.
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19
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Cui Y, Irudayaraj J. Inside single cells: quantitative analysis with advanced optics and nanomaterials. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 7:387-407. [PMID: 25430077 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Revised: 10/17/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell explorations offer a unique window to inspect molecules and events relevant to mechanisms and heterogeneity constituting the central dogma of biology. A large number of nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites, and small molecules are involved in determining and fine-tuning the state and function of a single cell at a given time point. Advanced optical platforms and nanotools provide tremendous opportunities to probe intracellular components with single-molecule accuracy, as well as promising tools to adjust single-cell activity. To obtain quantitative information (e.g., molecular quantity, kinetics, and stoichiometry) within an intact cell, achieving the observation with comparable spatiotemporal resolution is a challenge. For single-cell studies, both the method of detection and the biocompatibility are critical factors as they determine the feasibility, especially when considering live-cell analysis. Although a considerable proportion of single-cell methodologies depend on specialized expertise and expensive instruments, it is our expectation that the information content and implication will outweigh the costs given the impact on life science enabled by single-cell analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Cui
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Bindley Bioscience Center and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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20
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Song Y, Zhang X, Huang L, Behlke MA, Tsourkas A. Real-time imaging of single engineered RNA transcripts in living cells using ratiometric bimolecular beacons. J Vis Exp 2014:e51544. [PMID: 25146531 DOI: 10.3791/51544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing realization that both the temporal and spatial regulation of gene expression can have important consequences on cell function has led to the development of diverse techniques to visualize individual RNA transcripts in single living cells. One promising technique that has recently been described utilizes an oligonucleotide-based optical probe, ratiometric bimolecular beacon (RBMB), to detect RNA transcripts that were engineered to contain at least four tandem repeats of the RBMB target sequence in the 3'-untranslated region. RBMBs are specifically designed to emit a bright fluorescent signal upon hybridization to complementary RNA, but otherwise remain quenched. The use of a synthetic probe in this approach allows photostable, red-shifted, and highly emissive organic dyes to be used for imaging. Binding of multiple RBMBs to the engineered RNA transcripts results in discrete fluorescence spots when viewed under a wide-field fluorescent microscope. Consequently, the movement of individual RNA transcripts can be readily visualized in real-time by taking a time series of fluorescent images. Here we describe the preparation and purification of RBMBs, delivery into cells by microporation and live-cell imaging of single RNA transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Song
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania
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21
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Zhang X, Zajac AL, Huang L, Behlke MA, Tsourkas A. Imaging the directed transport of single engineered RNA transcripts in real-time using ratiometric bimolecular beacons. PLoS One 2014; 9:e85813. [PMID: 24454933 PMCID: PMC3893274 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between RNA expression and cell function can often be difficult to decipher due to the presence of both temporal and sub-cellular processing of RNA. These intricacies of RNA regulation can often be overlooked when only acquiring global measurements of RNA expression. This has led to development of several tools that allow for the real-time imaging of individual engineered RNA transcripts in living cells. Here, we describe a new technique that utilizes an oligonucleotide-based probe, ratiometric bimolecular beacon (RBMB), to image RNA transcripts that were engineered to contain 96-tandem repeats of the RBMB target sequence in the 3′-untranslated region. Binding of RBMBs to the target RNA resulted in discrete bright fluorescent spots, representing individual transcripts, that could be imaged in real-time. Since RBMBs are a synthetic probe, the use of photostable, bright, and red-shifted fluorophores led to a high signal-to-background. RNA motion was readily characterized by both mean squared displacement and moment scaling spectrum analyses. These analyses revealed clear examples of directed, Brownian, and subdiffusive movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Allison L. Zajac
- Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Lingyan Huang
- Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., Coralville, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Mark A. Behlke
- Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., Coralville, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Andrew Tsourkas
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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