A GFP for RNA

Researchers describe a GFP mimic for fluorescently labeling RNA molecules.

The genetically encodable protein tag GFP and the rainbow of fluorescent variants it inspired have been indispensible for cell biology. Tagging RNAs in cells, however, is not so straightforward.

Samie Jaffrey's lab at Weill Medical College of Cornell University has long been interested in studying the role of RNAs in axon guidance. However, Jaffrey was frustrated that simple tools for visualizing RNAs were not available.

(This article relates to me, as well, because my senior seminar was on axon guidance, and I did not cover RNA mechanisms at all because I did not find any.)