Molecular beacons will be used to image the synthesis, degradation, movement and localization of specific mRNAs in living cells. These probes are oligonucleotides that become fluorescent upon hybridization. We have shown that molecular beacons composed of 2'-O-methylribonucleotides are stable within cells, do not cause the destruction of target RNAs, and can be used to visualize the distribution of specific mRNAs. Using these probes, we will study the mechanisms that mRNAs use for their own transport and localization within cells. The same probes will be used to study cyclical changes in gene expression that are associated with cellular circadian rhythms. Working with fruitfly oocytes, in which the localization and transport of many mRNAs has been studied intensively, we will seek direct proof of the view that ribonucleoprotein particles containing mRNAs travel on cytoskeletal fibers to reach their destinations. We will explore the structure of these ribonucleoprotein particles with the aid of molecular beacons in which the fluorophore is linked to the rest of the probe via a photocleavable linker. We will also study mechanisms that send different mRNAs to different sites in the cell, yet utilize the same transport machinery. In order to observe the movement of single mRNA molecules within cultured cells, we will construct an inducible artificial gene that encodes an mRNA containing 256 tandem molecular beacon targets. With this construct, we will be able to follow the movement of individual mRNA molecules as they are transcribed, undergo maturation, are exported from the nucleus, and are sent to different regions of the cytoplasm for translation. We are also proposing new structures and configurations for molecular beacons that will enable us to control their distribution within the cell, which improves the specificity of their signals. Since it is difficult to predict the location of probe-accessible sequences in large mRNAs, we will develop a new experimental approach for finding those sites. Finally, we will develop a new and efficient method for delivering probes into cells. Based on the mechanism of action of natural SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion, this method employs complementary single-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides that are anchored to the surfaces of cells and vesicles to facilitate their fusion. Through the development of these synergistic techniques, it will be possible to observe the movement of specific mRNAs in living cells.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM070357-02
Application #
6876715
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F05 (50))
Program Officer
Lewis, Catherine D
Project Start
2004-04-01
Project End
2008-03-31
Budget Start
2005-04-01
Budget End
2006-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$284,627
Indirect Cost
Name
Public Health Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Newark
State
NJ
Country
United States
Zip Code
07103
van den Bogaard, Patrick T C; Tyagi, Sanjay (2009) Using molecular beacons to study dispersal of mRNPs from the gene locus. Methods Mol Biol 464:91-103
Raj, Arjun; van den Bogaard, Patrick; Rifkin, Scott A et al. (2008) Imaging individual mRNA molecules using multiple singly labeled probes. Nat Methods 5:877-9
Maamar, Hedia; Raj, Arjun; Dubnau, David (2007) Noise in gene expression determines cell fate in Bacillus subtilis. Science 317:526-9
Tyagi, Sanjay (2007) Splitting or stacking fluorescent proteins to visualize mRNA in living cells. Nat Methods 4:391-2
Raj, Arjun; Peskin, Charles S; Tranchina, Daniel et al. (2006) Stochastic mRNA synthesis in mammalian cells. PLoS Biol 4:e309
Marras, Salvatore A E; Tyagi, Sanjay; Kramer, Fred Russell (2006) Real-time assays with molecular beacons and other fluorescent nucleic acid hybridization probes. Clin Chim Acta 363:48-60
Mhlanga, Musa M; Tyagi, Sanjay (2006) Using tRNA-linked molecular beacons to image cytoplasmic mRNAs in live cells. Nat Protoc 1:1392-8
Raj, Arjun; Peskin, Charles S (2006) The influence of chromosome flexibility on chromosome transport during anaphase A. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:5349-54
Marras, Salvatore A E (2006) Selection of fluorophore and quencher pairs for fluorescent nucleic acid hybridization probes. Methods Mol Biol 335:3-16
Kloc, Malgorzata; Wilk, Katarzyna; Vargas, Diana et al. (2005) Potential structural role of non-coding and coding RNAs in the organization of the cytoskeleton at the vegetal cortex of Xenopus oocytes. Development 132:3445-57

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