A new chapter in fluorescence imaging Live imaging of the central dogma in vivo

Abstract

The development of an organism is regulated by the information encoded in DNA. The central dogma is the process which decodes this information through two mechanisms: transcription and translation. These mechanisms are important in the correct transfer of information, which decides cell fate, pattern location and development of an organism. In vitro studies have already shown mechanistic insights of the central dogma, however there is still a big gap in our understanding about how the central dogma effects the development of an organism. These gaps can only be filled by studying the central dogma in real time and in vivo. In this review we describe three new techniques which are used to study mechanisms of the central dogma in vivo. The first technique is the MS2-tagging system, which allows the visualization of transcription in vivo. Visualization of transcription is the first step of understanding gene regulation. Difference in transcription levels between cells is essential for the pattern formation in embryos. The second technique is the SunTag. This system is developed to visualize single proteins in cells, whereas In vivo the SunTag is able to visualize translation. This system revealed that the location of translation is related to the function of the protein. Finally, we discuss the LlamaTag. The LlamaTag is a technique which allows the visualization of proteins with a short lifetime. These proteins are important during development and small changes in their activation leads to dysfunction in the development of an organism. The LlamaTag allows to study the dynamics of these proteins in vivo. These techniques aid to understand the central dogma which dictates the cell fate and animal body plan.