DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2233244100. Visualizing the distribution and transport of mRNAs in living cells

Visualizing the distribution and transport of mRNAs in living cells

10.1073/pnas.2233244100

Crossref journal-article

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (341)

Abstract

We have visualized the movements of native mRNAs in living cells. Using nuclease-resistant molecular beacons, we imaged the transport and localization of oskar mRNA in Drosophila melanogaster oocytes. When the localization pattern was altered by genetic manipulation of the mRNA's 3′ untranslated region, or by chemical perturbation of the intracellular tubulin network, the distribution of the fluorescence signals changed accordingly. We tracked the migration of oskar mRNA in real time, from the nurse cells where it is produced to the posterior cortex of the oocyte where it is localized. Our observations reveal the presence of a transient, and heretofore elusive, stage in the transport of oskar mRNA. Direct visualization of specific mRNAs in living cells with molecular beacons will accelerate studies of intracellular RNA trafficking and localization, just as the use of green fluorescent protein has stimulated the study of specific proteins in vivo .

Bibliography

Bratu, D. P., Cha, B.-J., Mhlanga, M. M., Kramer, F. R., & Tyagi, S. (2003). Visualizing the distribution and transport of mRNAs in living cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 100(23), 13308â13313.

Authors 5

Diana P. Bratu (first)
Byeong-Jik Cha (additional)
Musa M. Mhlanga (additional)
Fred Russell Kramer (additional)
Sanjay Tyagi (additional)

References 35 Referenced 376

Dates

Type	When
Created	21 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 16, 2003, 3:42 p.m.)
Deposited	3 years, 4 months ago (April 25, 2022, 9:34 p.m.)
Indexed	4 days, 9 hours ago (Aug. 27, 2025, 12:39 p.m.)
Issued	21 years, 10 months ago (Oct. 28, 2003)
Published	21 years, 10 months ago (Oct. 28, 2003)
Published Online	21 years, 10 months ago (Oct. 28, 2003)
Published Print	21 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 11, 2003)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Bratu_2003, title={Visualizing the distribution and transport of mRNAs in living cells}, volume={100}, ISSN={1091-6490}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2233244100}, DOI={10.1073/pnas.2233244100}, number={23}, journal={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, publisher={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, author={Bratu, Diana P. and Cha, Byeong-Jik and Mhlanga, Musa M. and Kramer, Fred Russell and Tyagi, Sanjay}, year={2003}, month=oct, pages={13308–13313} }

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