title: Imaging of gene expression in living cells and tissues.
abstract: It is possible to observe gene expression within single cells using a tetracycline inducible promoter for activation. Transcription can be observed by using a fluorescent fusion protein to bind nascent RNA. Ultimately, it is desirable to activate a reporter gene within a single cell with only photons. This is achieved by preparing a chemically altered transcription factor that is functionally unable to activate a reporter gene until it is exposed to photon excitation. We apply two-photon imaging to visualize tumor cells expressing a transgene and ultimately this approach will provide the means to activate a specific gene within a single cell within any tissue to ultimately observe its functional significance in situ.
authors.affiliation: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Biophotonics Center, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, USA. rhsinger@aecom.yu.edu
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ovryn
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Condeelis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins