In his last lecture, Singer continues the story of the life and death of RNA. His lab has developed several more fluorescence microscopy techniques that let them study, in real time, the translation and degradation of mRNA. These techniques allow them to track when and where translation begins, how quickly a ribosome binds to a mRNA once it has reached its destination, how long the ribosome stays bound and how rapidly it adds amino acids to a growing protein chain. In addition, these techniques can be used to unveil the dynamics of RNA degradation. In an interesting twist, it turns out that for mRNAs that must be degraded during the cell cycle, their fate is decided at the time of their birth.
View the full talk with additional resources on our website
RNA Localization: Following Single mRNAs from Birth to Death in Living Cells
Robert Singer’s lab has developed specialized techniques that allow them to visualize RNA localization of a single mRNA molecule from birth to death in living cells. (Talk recorded in February 2018)
- Part 1: Seeing is Believing: Imaging the Expression of Genes within Single CellsAudience:
- Student
- Researcher
- Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
- Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad
Duration: 34.49 - Part 2: RNA Localization: Following Single mRNAs from Birth to Death in Living CellsAudience:
- Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
- Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad
Duration: 40:59 - Part 3: Imaging Translation and Degradation of Single mRNAs in Living CellsAudience:
- Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
- Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad
Duration: 26:36