Direct visualization of mRNA colocalization with mitochondria in living cells using molecular beacons

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Abstract
MRNA localization is a widespread posttranscriptional mechanism for targeting protein synthesis to specific subcellular locations.1 It is believed that the specific localization of mRNAs plays a key role in the compartmentalization of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm, and facilitates protein-protein interactions.2 Clearly, mRNA localization requires the formation of mRNA ribonucleoprotein particles (mRNPs) that can be targeted to specific regions of a cell3 where polyribosomes (also referred to as polysomes) are assembled. It has also been shown that both mRNP transport and polyribosome formation involve the cytoskeleton.4, 5, 6 However, many important questions remain open concerning mRNA localization. For example, little is known about subcellular localization and organelle association of mRNAs. Although it was suggested that 70 to 80% of mRNPs in a cell are colocalized with the cytoskeleton, such a colocalization has been confirmed for only a very small number of mRNAs.7, 8