Single Molecule RNA FISH in the Mammalian Oocyte
2015
Denisa Jansova
RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization is a method to localize and measure gene expression in individual cell or tissue. Using multiple specific fluorescently labeled oligonucleotides greatly increases signal-to-noise ratio and thus enables detection of single RNA molecule. Around forty different DNA oligonucleotides designed to common RNA target and labeled with single fluorophore at 3´ terminus hybridizes with target RNA in fixed cells. We adapt this method to visualize target RNA in the mammalian oocyte. The ability to detect single transcript in the mammalian oocyte was challenging due to its large cell size. This method consists of four simple steps: fixation, permeabilization, hybridization and imaging. The protocol is adapted to this large nonattached cell to visualize maternal RNAs. Combination of various fluorophores allows detection of more RNA targets. This method might be used with organelle markers or expanded with immunofluorescence protocol.
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