RNA QUADRUPLEXWIKIMEDIA COMMONS, SCHNEIDER KD
A novel technique for tagging and following RNA processes in live cells promises to illuminate RNA biology the way green fluorescent protein (GFP) did for the study of proteins. The tagging method consists of short RNA sequences that bind to GFP-like fluorophores and produce a wide range of colors. These RNA-fluorophore complexes can then be fused to RNAs in the cell.
J.S. Paige et al., “RNA mimics of green fluorescent protein,” Science, 333: 642-6, 2011. Free F1000 Evaluation
Though large swaths of non-coding RNAs exist in mammals, no one had clearly explained their role. This study knocks down some of these regions and showed widespread effects on gene expression in stem cells, causing them to leave their ...
