Visualizing RNA splicing in vivo.
Ribozymes are RNA molecules capable of associating with other RNA molecules through base-pairing and catalyzing various reactions involving phosphate group transfer. Of particular interest to us is the well known ribozyme from Tetrahymena thermophila capable of catalyzing RNA splicing in eukaryotic systems, chiefly because of its potential use as a gene therapy agent. In this article we review the progress made towards visualizing the RNA splicing mediated by the Tetrahymena ribozyme in single living mammalian cells with the beta-lactamase reporter system and highlight the development made in imaging RNA splicing with the luciferase reporter system in living animals.
Gowrishankar
Gayatri
G
Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology & Bio-X Program, Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1201 Welch Road, Stanford, California 94305-5484, USA. jrao@stanford.edu
Rao
Jianghong
J
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D012326:RNA Splicing; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D008156:Luciferases