How do you determine the localization of a single mRNA molecule in a living cell? Better yet – can you bring that mRNA where you want it?
I have briefly mentioned the MS2 system a while back. Essentially, The MS2 system to determine mRNA localization is composed of two parts: an RNA stem loop (referred to as MS2-coat protein (MCP) binding site, MBS) and the MCP – the coat protein from bacteriophage MS2.
MCP specifically binds the MBS (as a dimer).
A similar system with bacteriophage PP7 coat protein (PCP) and PBS was developed in our lab.
How does the MS2 system help to visualize mRNAs? Continue reading
