RNA plays a central role in gene expression from its transcription in the nucleus through translation and degradation in the cytoplasm. Technological advances in fluorescent microscopy and labeling methodologies have made it possible to detect single molecules of RNA in both fixed and living cells. Here, we focus on the recent developments in RNA imaging that have allowed quantitatively measuring the lives of individual transcripts from birth to death and all the events in between in single cells and tissues. Direct observation of RNAs within their native cellular environment has revealed a complex layer of spatial and temporal regulation that has profoundly impacted our understanding of RNA biology.

中文翻译：

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成像单细胞中mRNA的生与死。

从其在细胞核中转录到细胞质中的翻译和降解，RNA在基因表达中起着核心作用。荧光显微镜和标记方法的技术进步使得在固定细胞和活细胞中检测单分子RNA成为可能。在这里，我们关注于RNA成像的最新发展，这些发展已允许定量测量从出生到死亡的单个转录本的生命以及单个细胞和组织之间的所有事件。对RNA在其天然细胞环境中的直接观察揭示了复杂的时空调节层，深刻影响了我们对RNA生物学的理解。