Synthetic compartments stored RNA records in human cells for several days
Synthetic compartments called recordanelles captured a sampling of up to 90% of messenger RNAs in human cells and protected them for several days. Messenger RNAs carry instructions copied from genes. In their Nature Biotechnology paper, the researchers describe compartments built from a mitochondrial membrane anchor, a component that assembles the compartment and an RNA-binding protein. The stored RNA preserved records of brief changes in gene activity, including responses to interferon signaling, within individual cells. Most current methods capture snapshots of gene activity. Existing approaches that record its history are constrained to a few genes or have other limits on continuous sampling.
Researchers could recover evidence of brief gene activity responses in individual human cells after those responses had subsided.
Written by the Genomes desk from the primary source cited and linked above and checked against it. Research use only; not medical advice. Corrections: [email protected].