VISUALIZATION OF GENE TRANSCRIPTION AT SINGLE-MOLECULE RESOLUTION

This project aims at visualizing gene expression at single molecule level in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. Cell viability, growth, proliferation, differentiation and death are controlled by precise expression of specific genes in time. The transcription is the first step of gene expression, when a gene is copied in RNA by a RNA polymerase (Pol). Most of the molecular players of transcription are now identified. However to better understand the mechanism of transcription regulation, the functional organization of individual gene expression at the molecular scale in the three-dimensional context of the nucleus is still missing. We have chosen to visualize transcriptionally active ribosomal RNA genes inside the nucleus of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To reach this goal, we intend to develop a Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM) method making use of  advanced fluorescents imaging methods: PhotoActivated Localization Microscopy (PALM) and Structured illumination microscopy (SIM). This project is in collaboration with fluorescent (LITC) and electron (METI) imaging platform.

Funding

Other funding: IDEX Emergence