Visualizing and modulating molecular and cellular processes occurring deep within living organisms is fundamental to our study of basic biology and disease. Currently, the most sophisticated tools available to dynamically monitor and control cellular events rely on light-responsive proteins, which are difficult to use outside of optically transparent model systems, cultured cells, or surgically accessed regions owing to strong scattering of light by biological tissue. In contrast, ultrasound is a widely used medical imaging and therapeutic modality that enables the observation and perturbation of internal anatomy and physiology but has historically had limited ability to monitor and control specific cellular processes. Recent advances are beginning to address this limitation through the development of biomolecular tools that allow ultrasound to connect directly to cellular functions such as gene expression. Driven by the discovery and engineering of new contrast agents, reporter genes, and bioswitches, the nascent field of biomolecular ultrasound carries a wave of exciting opportunities.

中文翻译：

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生物分子超声和声遗传学。


可视化和调节生物体深处发生的分子和细胞过程是我们研究基础生物学和疾病的基础。目前，可用于动态监测和控制细胞事件的最复杂的工具依赖于光响应蛋白，由于生物组织对光的强烈散射，这些蛋白很难在光学透明模型系统、培养细胞或手术进入区域之外使用。相比之下，超声波是一种广泛使用的医学成像和治疗方式，可以观察和扰动内部解剖和生理学，但历史上监测和控制特定细胞过程的能力有限。最近的进展开始通过开发生物分子工具来解决这一限制，这些工具允许超声波直接连接到基因表达等细胞功能。在新型造影剂、报告基因和生物开关的发现和工程的推动下，生物分子超声这一新兴领域带来了一波令人兴奋的机遇。