RNA Imaging with RNase-Inactivated Csy4 in Plants and Filamentous Fungi

Methods Mol Biol. 2020:2166:157-178. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0712-1_9.

Abstract

Subcellular localizations of RNAs can be imaged in vivo with genetically encoded reporters consisting of a sequence-specific RNA-binding protein (RBP) fused to a fluorescent protein. Several such reporter systems have been described based on RBPs that recognize RNA stem-loops. Here we describe RNA tagging for imaging with an inactive mutant of the bacterial endonuclease Csy4, which has a significantly higher affinity for its cognate stem-loop than alternative systems. This property allows for sensitive imaging with only few tandem copies of the target stem-loop inserted into the RNA of interest.

Keywords: Csy4; Filamentous fungi; Live-cell imaging; Neurospora crassa; Plant virus; RNA imaging; RNA stem-loop; RNA virus.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • CRISPR-Associated Proteins / genetics*
  • CRISPR-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Endoribonucleases / genetics*
  • Endoribonucleases / metabolism
  • Fungi / genetics*
  • Fungi / metabolism
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Genes, Reporter / genetics*
  • Inverted Repeat Sequences / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods*
  • Mutation
  • Neurospora crassa / genetics
  • Neurospora crassa / metabolism
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Nicotiana / virology
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plants / genetics*
  • Plants / metabolism
  • Plants / virology
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA / genetics*
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Transformation, Genetic

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • CRISPR-Associated Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • RNA
  • Csy4 endoribonuclease, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Endoribonucleases