title: Light-activatable molecular beacons with a caged loop sequence.
abstract: We have synthesized molecular beacons with caged nucleobases in the loop region. These constructs remain non-fluorescent in the presence of their target RNA but can be fully activated by light (366 or 405 nm) in vitro and in HEK293 cells. We suggest that this technology will be useful for single molecule RNA tracking in living cells.
authors.affiliation: Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (FMLS), Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, 60438 Frankfurt (M), Germany.
authors.forename: Khashti Ballabh
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vlachos
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mikat
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deller
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heckel
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger