title: A method for detecting single mRNA molecules inArabidopsis thaliana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite advances in other model organisms, there are currently no techniques to explore cell-to-cell variation and sub-cellular localization of RNA molecules at the single-cell level in plants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we describe a method for imaging individual mRNA molecules inArabidopsis thalianaroot cells using multiple singly labeled oligonucleotide probes. We demonstrate detection of both mRNA and nascent transcripts of the housekeeping geneProtein Phosphatase 2A. Our image analysis pipeline also enables quantification of mRNAs that reveals the frequency distribution of transcripts per cell underlying the population mean.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This method allows single molecule RNA in situ to be exploited as a powerful tool for studying gene regulation in plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Department of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK.
authors.forename: Tjelvar S G
authors.initials: TSG
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hartley
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosa
keywords: Arabidopsis; FISH; Fluorescence microscopy; Gene expression; RNA; Transcription