A protocol for imaging alternative splicing regulation in vivo using fluorescence reporters in transgenic mice.

Nat Protoc

Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for RNA Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.

Published: December 2007

AI Article Synopsis

  • Imaging technologies are transforming our understanding of regulatory processes in living organisms, particularly through the use of fluorescence minigenes for observing alternative splicing.
  • Researchers are creating transgenic mice equipped with these reporters to visualize splicing regulation across various tissues and cell types.
  • The entire process, from developing the reporters to imaging in adult mice, takes about 1.5 years and can be applied to studying both normal and diseased states.

Article Abstract

Imaging technologies are influencing the way we study regulatory processes in vivo. Several recent reports use fluorescence minigenes to image alternative splicing events in living cells and animals. This type of reporter is being used to generate transgenic mice to visualize splicing regulation in diverse tissues and cell types. In this protocol, we describe how to develop animals that report on alternative splicing and how to assess reporter expression in excised organs and tissue sections. The entire procedure, from making the reporters to imaging organs and tissues in adult transgenic mice, should take approximately 1.5 years. Fluorescence reporters can be used to image many splicing decisions in normal tissues and organs and can be extended to the study of disease states.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2007.292DOI Listing

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