Visualizing Transcription of Genes in Living Cells
National Institutes of Health
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Visualizing Transcription of Genes in Living Cells: Scientists have developed reagents coupled with microscopic technology to visualize individual genes being transcribed in real-time in living cells. Transcription mechanisms have largely been determined from test tube experiments and large scale genome-wide analyses. This technology uses fluorescently tagged genes, which generate fluorescent proteins and tracks their active transcription using multi-photon fluorescence microscopy. Eventually, refinements of the technology should enable researchers to watch individual genes being transcribed in many types of cells, including those from humans, which may provide more insight in the mechanisms of how transcription occurs.
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Watch Genes Turn On in Living Cells: Most genes serve one main purpose: as recipes for the body’s proteins. The first step in activating genes to produce proteins is called transcription. Although scientists think they know how transcription works, it has not been well studied in real-time in living cells. Now, researchers have developed fluorescent dyes and new techniques in microscopy that will enable them to watch transcription from individual genes. Faulty gene transcription can lead to cancer, so a detailed understanding of the process may lead to new ways to treat disease.