RNA was visualized at ultra-high resolution in living cells

The method is based on a new molecular marker called a rhodamine-binding aptamer for methods

super-resolution imaging (RhoBAST).This RNA-based fluorescence marker is used in combination with the dye rhodamine. Due to their distinctive properties, the marker and dye interact in a very specific way, which causes individual RNA molecules to glow. They can then be made visible using single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), a super-resolution imaging technique. Due to the lack of suitable fluorescent markers, direct observation of RNA using optical fluorescence microscopy has been severely limited to date.

RhoBAST was developed by researchers from the Instituteof Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB) at the University of Heidelberg and the Institute of Applied Physics (APH) at KIT. The marker they created is genetically encoded, meaning it can be fused to the gene of any RNA produced by the cell. RhoBAST itself is not fluorescent, but illuminates the cell-permeable rhodamine dye, binding to it in a very specific way.

"This leads to a sharp increasefluorescence achieved by the RhoBAST complex, which is a key requirement for obtaining excellent fluorescence images. However, for super-resolution RNA imaging, the marker needs additional properties.”

Murat Zunbül from IPMB

The researchers found that each moleculethe rhodamine dye remains bound to RhoBAST for only about one second before detaching again. After a few seconds, this procedure is repeated with a new dye molecule. It is quite rare to find strong interactions, for example, between RhoBAST and rhodamine, combined with extremely fast metabolic kinetics. Since rhodamine only lights up after binding to RhoBAST, the constant sequence of re-emerging interactions between the marker and the dye leads to continuous “blinking”. This on-off is exactly what you need for rendering.

At the same time, the RhoBAST system solves anotheran important problem. Fluorescent images are collected by exposure to laser light, which over time breaks down the dye molecules. Rapid dye change ensures that photobleached dyes are replaced with fresh ones. This means that individual RNA molecules can be observed for longer periods of time, which can significantly improve image resolution.

Researchers from Heidelberg and Karlsruhe were able todemonstrate the superior properties of RhoBAST by visualizing RNA structures within intestinal bacteria (Escherichia coli) and cultured human cells with superior localization accuracy. Scientists were able to uncover details of previously invisible subcellular structures and molecular interactions involving RNA using ultra-high-resolution fluorescence microscopy. This will provide a fundamentally new understanding of biological processes.

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