Live‑cell RNA imaging protocol published
A new protocol enables live‑cell imaging of RNA expression, splicing, and localization using bright, stable fluorescent RNAs—opening research paths that could translate into dynamic biomarkers for cytology in future. This method may eventually inform novel cytologic assays that assess cellular activity beyond morphology. (nature.com)
Nature Protocols paper by Fangting Zuo, Ni Su, Xin Xie, Li Jiang, Mengyue Fang and colleagues was published in 2026 with DOI 10.1038/s41596-026-01343-z. The authors state the protocol is designed to be adaptable to both bacteria and mammalian cells and to “any other cell types capable of expressing the necessary target RNA–aptamer fusion.” The workflow the paper details typically takes 5–7 days and explicitly lists cloning, transfection or bacterial transformation, live imaging and results analysis as the main sequential steps. The protocol uses single or tandem copies of RNA aptamers named Pepper, Okra and Clivia fused to target RNAs, with published characterizations for Clivia variants such as Clivia580 in prior imaging work. Multiplexed RNA imaging in the protocol is enabled by orthogonal fluorescent RNAs and the authors include stepwise procedures for performing super‑resolution live imaging of tagged RNAs. The method as presented relies on exogenous expression of aptamer‑tagged transcripts; the authors contrast this tagging approach with alternative sequence‑activated and small‑molecule methods developed for imaging endogenous transcripts in live cells. Funding for the study lists grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (including grant numbers shown in the article metadata), and the author list and acknowledgments indicate major contributions from Chinese research institutions.
