Spatiotemporal control of translation in live zebrafish embryos via photoprotected mRNAs
Abstract Translation of mRNA into protein is a fundamental process and tightly controlled during development. Several mechanisms acting on the mRNA level regulate when and where an mRNA is expressed. To explore the effects of conditional and transient gene expression in a developing organism, it is...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Communications Chemistry |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01411-7 |
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| author | Florian P. Weissenboeck Melissa Pieper Helena Schepers Sophie Hötte Nils Klöcker Sabine Hüwel Andreas van Impel Stefan Schulte-Merker Andrea Rentmeister |
| author_facet | Florian P. Weissenboeck Melissa Pieper Helena Schepers Sophie Hötte Nils Klöcker Sabine Hüwel Andreas van Impel Stefan Schulte-Merker Andrea Rentmeister |
| author_sort | Florian P. Weissenboeck |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Translation of mRNA into protein is a fundamental process and tightly controlled during development. Several mechanisms acting on the mRNA level regulate when and where an mRNA is expressed. To explore the effects of conditional and transient gene expression in a developing organism, it is vital to experimentally enable abrogation and restoration of translation. We recently developed the FlashCaps technology allowing preparation of translationally muted mRNAs and their controlled activation by light. Here, we validate its functionality in vivo. We demonstrate that translation of FlashCap-eGFP-mRNA can be triggered in zebrafish embryos with spatiotemporal control. The injected FlashCap-mRNA is stable for hours and remains muted. Light-mediated activation up to 24 h post fertilization produces visible amounts of eGFP and can be restricted to distinct parts of the embryo. This methodology extends the toolbox for vertebrate models by enabling researchers to locally activate mRNA translation at different timepoints during development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5eb59e49d89d45eab1b6114a8ba05567 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2399-3669 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Chemistry |
| spelling | doaj-art-5eb59e49d89d45eab1b6114a8ba055672025-01-19T12:13:14ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Chemistry2399-36692025-01-01811810.1038/s42004-025-01411-7Spatiotemporal control of translation in live zebrafish embryos via photoprotected mRNAsFlorian P. Weissenboeck0Melissa Pieper1Helena Schepers2Sophie Hötte3Nils Klöcker4Sabine Hüwel5Andreas van Impel6Stefan Schulte-Merker7Andrea Rentmeister8Institute of Biochemistry, University of MünsterInstitute of Biochemistry, University of MünsterInstitute of Biochemistry, University of MünsterInstitute for Cardiovascular Organogenesis and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine, University of MünsterInstitute of Biochemistry, University of MünsterInstitute of Biochemistry, University of MünsterInstitute for Cardiovascular Organogenesis and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine, University of MünsterInstitute for Cardiovascular Organogenesis and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine, University of MünsterInstitute of Biochemistry, University of MünsterAbstract Translation of mRNA into protein is a fundamental process and tightly controlled during development. Several mechanisms acting on the mRNA level regulate when and where an mRNA is expressed. To explore the effects of conditional and transient gene expression in a developing organism, it is vital to experimentally enable abrogation and restoration of translation. We recently developed the FlashCaps technology allowing preparation of translationally muted mRNAs and their controlled activation by light. Here, we validate its functionality in vivo. We demonstrate that translation of FlashCap-eGFP-mRNA can be triggered in zebrafish embryos with spatiotemporal control. The injected FlashCap-mRNA is stable for hours and remains muted. Light-mediated activation up to 24 h post fertilization produces visible amounts of eGFP and can be restricted to distinct parts of the embryo. This methodology extends the toolbox for vertebrate models by enabling researchers to locally activate mRNA translation at different timepoints during development.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01411-7 |
| spellingShingle | Florian P. Weissenboeck Melissa Pieper Helena Schepers Sophie Hötte Nils Klöcker Sabine Hüwel Andreas van Impel Stefan Schulte-Merker Andrea Rentmeister Spatiotemporal control of translation in live zebrafish embryos via photoprotected mRNAs Communications Chemistry |
| title | Spatiotemporal control of translation in live zebrafish embryos via photoprotected mRNAs |
| title_full | Spatiotemporal control of translation in live zebrafish embryos via photoprotected mRNAs |
| title_fullStr | Spatiotemporal control of translation in live zebrafish embryos via photoprotected mRNAs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatiotemporal control of translation in live zebrafish embryos via photoprotected mRNAs |
| title_short | Spatiotemporal control of translation in live zebrafish embryos via photoprotected mRNAs |
| title_sort | spatiotemporal control of translation in live zebrafish embryos via photoprotected mrnas |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01411-7 |
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