Imaging of RNA in live cells

Abstract

Fluorescence microscopy and molecular tagging technologies have ushered in a new era in our understanding of protein localization and function in cells. This review summarizes recent efforts to extend some of these methods (and to create new ones) to imaging of RNA in live cells. Both fluorescent proteins and hybridization probes allow noncovalent labeling of specific RNA molecules with fluorescent dyes that allow detection and tracking in real time.