Molecular imaging of microRNAs
- 30 March 2011
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
- Vol. 38 (8), 1572-1579
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-011-1786-0
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a novel class of small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting mRNAs for either cleavage or translational repression. They have been shown to play important roles in a broad range of biological processes including development, cellular differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Conventional detection methods, such as northern blot, real-time PCR or microarray, have been used to assess miRNA expression. However, these techniques require the fixation or lysis of cells, and thus cannot be used to study the dynamic function of miRNAs in living cells. Recent remarkable advances in molecular imaging techniques have provided the capability of noninvasive repeated quantitative imaging of tumour or stem cells in living animals. The current brief discussion focuses on the reporter and fluorescent beacon imaging approaches to visualize miRNA expression in living subjects.Keywords
This publication has 54 references indexed in Scilit:
- Smart Magnetic Fluorescent Nanoparticle Imaging Probes to Monitor MicroRNAsSmall, 2009
- Codon-Optimized Gaussia Luciferase cDNA for Mammalian Gene Expression in Culture and in VivoMolecular Therapy, 2005
- A custom microarray platform for analysis of microRNA gene expressionNature Methods, 2004
- MicroRNA genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase IIThe EMBO Journal, 2004
- Quantitation of microRNAs using a modified Invader assayRNA, 2004
- Micromanagers of gene expression: the potentially widespread influence of metazoan microRNAsNature Reviews Genetics, 2004
- Peptide-linked molecular beacons for efficient delivery and rapid mRNA detection in living cellsNucleic Acids Research, 2004
- A high-throughput method to monitor the expression of microRNA precursorsNucleic Acids Research, 2004
- Quantitative Comparison of the Sensitivity of Detection of Fluorescent and Bioluminescent Reporters in Animal ModelsMolecular Imaging, 2004
- Firefly luciferase as a tool in molecular and cell biologyAnalytical Biochemistry, 1988