Development of a Sensitive Method to Measure Transient RNA Levels in Living Cells

DNA transcription is the pivotal step in many cellular processes, and regulation of this complex biological event is essential for homeostasis. Currently available methods used to study this process do not enable real-time monitoring of DNA transcription in intact cells. To gain insights into the transient RNA levels of living cells in real-time, we are currently developing chemical sensors that visualize RNA by means of fluorescence spectroscopy. This method can be used to screen libraries of small molecules to identify regulators of transcription and RNA processing in a high-throughput fashion.

View Shockwave Animation depicting the planned mode of action of one of these chemical sensor molecules in a living cell.

You will need Version 8.5 of the Macromedia Shockwave player,If you do not have it, you can download it at www.shockwave.com

Take a tour of our lab facilities.