Imaging mRNA movement from transcription sites to translation sites

Abstract

RNA localization is one mechanism to temporally and spatially restrict protein synthesis to specific subcellular compartments in response to extracellular stimuli. To understand the mechanisms of mRNA localization, a number of methods have been developed to follow the path of these molecules in living cells including direct labeling of target mRNAs, the MS2-GFP system, and molecular beacons. We review advances in these methods with the goal of identifying the particular strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches in their ability to follow the movements of mRNAs from transcription sites to translation sites.

Fig. 1

Schematic representation of some the methods for visualizing mRNA movements in living cells. (A) Direct labeling of an mRNA with multiple fluorophores. (B) Stem-loop/stem-loop-binding-GFP fusion protein system. (C) Dual molecular beacon/FRET system. The dashed lines represent standard Watson/Crick base pairs.