Scientists from Albert Einstein College of Medicine have developed a technique using fluorescence microscopy to reveal where and when proteins are produced. This process allows scientists to see individual mRNA's as they are translated into proteins in living cells. This technique focuses on the first occurrence of translation in which the ribosome attached to the mRNA must displace the RNA binding proteins from the mRNA's. Researchers synthesized identical copies of mRNA molecules and colored one red and one green. This allowed the nucleus, where mRNA's are made, to turn yellow by containing both colors. When they travel to the cytoplasm, their color may change again based on their new function.
When the mRNA's land on the ribosomes, they displace its green fluorescent protein resulting in a red appearance. Meanwhile, all the untranslated mRNA molecules remain yellow. This technique has been named TRICK (Translating RNA Imaging by Coat protein Knock-off). TRICK has also enabled scientists to discover that protein translation does not start immediately after the mRNA's exit the nucleus, but intact begin a few minutes after the mRNA's have entered the cytoplasm.
I found this discovery amazing. Not only was the place in the cell where proteins are made discovered, but also the timing. This technique of using color cues is very creative, but at the same time simple enough for non-scientists to understand. I think this discovery proves how far we have come in the medical field, but also how much further we can go.
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