Central OC Times

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have developed a method to tag RNA with a bioluminescent molecule, enabling real-time tracking of RNA movement within living organisms. This innovation, detailed in Nature Communications, could advance understanding of viral behavior and memory formation.

Professor Andrej Lupták from UC Irvine's pharmaceutical sciences department emphasized the foundational role of RNA in cellular processes. "The first step in saying something’s going to happen in a cell – the cell is going to grow, adapt, change or anything like that – underlying all of that is RNA," he said.

Tracking RNA has historically been challenging. "It turns out it’s been really quite difficult to know in living cells, and especially in living organisms, when RNA is turned on and where it goes," Lupták explained. The new tool provides visualization capabilities for these processes.

Viruses spread by injecting their RNA into host cells. By tagging this viral RNA with "RNA lanterns," scientists hope to gain insights into viral infiltration mechanisms. The technology also holds promise for observing bioluminescent RNA activity in brain cells, which may elucidate memory formation processes.

Jennifer Prescher, co-lead author and professor of chemistry at UC Irvine, highlighted the potential impact on neuroscience: “There’s a lot of interesting biology that’s happening at the RNA level in neurons,” she noted. Observing early events and transport of RNA could reveal fundamental aspects about brain function and memory.

The research utilized luciferase enzymes to create visible bioluminescence suitable for camera detection—a challenge previously unmet due to insufficient brightness levels.

Both Prescher and Lupták praised UC Irvine's collaborative environment for facilitating this research breakthrough. They acknowledged contributions from students Lila Halbers, Kevin Ng, Kyle Cole, and collaborator Oswald Steward.

Funding was provided by a W. M. Keck Foundation grant awarded to Lupták, Prescher, and Steward.

UC Irvine continues its Brilliant Future campaign launched on October 4, 2019. Aiming to engage alumni and secure $2 billion in support for various university initiatives including student success and research excellence.

Founded in 1965 and led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine is part of the Association of American Universities and ranks among top public universities nationally according to U.S. News & World Report. It contributes significantly to both local and statewide economies while maintaining a strong academic reputation.

For further information or media access inquiries related to UC Irvine news or faculty interviews via an on-campus studio setup, visit news resources online at https://news.uci.edu/media-resources/.