Super-resolution RNA imaging using a rhodamine-binding aptamer with fast exchange kinetics

Nat Biotechnol. 2021 Jun;39(6):686-690. doi: 10.1038/s41587-020-00794-3. Epub 2021 Feb 11.

Abstract

Overcoming limitations of previous fluorescent light-up RNA aptamers for super-resolution imaging, we present RhoBAST, an aptamer that binds a fluorogenic rhodamine dye with fast association and dissociation kinetics. Its intermittent fluorescence emission enables single-molecule localization microscopy with a resolution not limited by photobleaching. We use RhoBAST to image subcellular structures of RNA in live and fixed cells with about 10-nm localization precision and a high signal-to-noise ratio.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Kinetics
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Rhodamines / chemistry*

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Rhodamines