Sticky-flares nanotechnology to track and observe RNA (ribonucleic acid) regulation

I like the name ‘sticky-flares’ and had hoped there was an amusing story about its origins. Ah well, perhaps I’ll have better luck next time.

This work comes out of Chad Mirkin’s lab at Northwestern University (Chicago, US) according to a July 21, 2015 news item on Azonano,

RNA [ribonucleic acid] is a fundamental ingredient in all known forms of life — so when RNA goes awry, a lot can go wrong. RNA misregulation plays a critical role in the development of many disorders, such as mental disability, autism and cancer.

A new technology — called “Sticky-flares” — developed by nanomedicine experts at Northwestern University offers the first real-time method to track and observe the dynamics of RNA distribution as it is transported inside living cells.

A July 20, 2015 Northwestern University news release by Erin Spain, which originated the news item, describes the research in a little more detail also including information about predecessor technology,

Sticky-flares have the potential to help scientists understand the complexities of RNA better than any analytical technique to date and observe and study the biological and medical significance of RNA misregulation.

Previous technologies made it possible to attain static snapshots of RNA location, but that isn’t enough to understand the complexities of RNA transport and localization within a cell. Instead of analyzing snapshots of RNA to try to understand functioning, Sticky-flares help create an experience that is more like watching live-streaming video.

“This is very exciting because much of the RNA in cells has very specific quantities and localization, and both are critical to the cell’s function, but until this development it has been very difficult, and often impossible, to probe both attributes of RNA in a live cell,” said Chad A. Mirkin, a nanomedicine expert and corresponding author of the study. “We hope that many more researchers will be able to use this platform to increase our understanding of RNA function inside cells.”

Sticky-flares are tiny spherical nucleic acid gold nanoparticle conjugates that can enter living cells and target and transfer a fluorescent reporter or “tracking device” to RNA transcripts. This fluorescent labeling can be tracked via fluorescence microscopy as it is transported throughout the cell, including the nucleus.

In the … paper, the scientists explain how they used Sticky-flares to quantify β–actin mRNA in HeLa cells (the oldest and most commonly used human cell line) as well as to follow the real-time transport of β–actin mRNA in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Sticky-flares are built upon another technology from Mirkin’s group called NanoFlares, which was the first genetic-based approach that is able to detect live circulating tumor cells out of the complex matrix that is human blood.

NanoFlares have been very useful for researchers that operate in the arena of quantifying gene expression. AuraSense, Inc., a biotechnology company that licensed the NanoFlare technology from Northwestern University, and EMD-Millipore, another biotech company, have commercialized NanoFlares. There are now more than 1,700 commercial forms of NanoFlares sold under the SmartFlareä name in more than 230 countries.

The Sticky-flare is designed to address limitations of SmartFlares, most notably their inability to track RNA location and enter the nucleus. The Northwestern team believes Sticky-flares are poised to become a valuable tool for researchers who desire to understand the function of RNA in live cells.

Based on the paragraph about the precursor technology’s commercial success , I gather they are excited about similar possibilities for sticky-flares.

Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,

Quantification and real-time tracking of RNA in live cells using Sticky-flares by William E. Briley, Madison H. Bondy, Pratik S. Randeria, Torin J. Dupper, and Chad A. Mirkin. Published online before print July 20, 2015, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1510581112 PNAS July 20, 2015

This paper is behind a paywall.

4 thoughts on “Sticky-flares nanotechnology to track and observe RNA (ribonucleic acid) regulation

  1. Maryse de la Giroday Post author

    Hi Raphael! Thanks so much for dropping by to leave a link to David Mason’s critique. I always appreciate the opportunity to lend more depth to the material presented here. As well, I was fascinated to note Mason’s comment about having recent collaborators act as reviewers. I was unaware of the practice and tend to agree it seems problematic. So, I offer triple thanks for (1) the link (2) more information about sticky-flares and (3) information about reviewers and collaborators. Cheers, Maryse

  2. Raphael Levy

    Hi Maryse

    Glad you enjoyed the first comment! Here is some more context with a link to a more in depth investigation of smartflares and stickyflare by an independent science journalist, Leonid Schneider:
    https://forbetterscience.wordpress.com/2015/11/20/do-nanoparticles-deliver-mercks-smart-flares-and-other-controversies/

    Also, we submitted our critique of the article as a letter to PNAS but it was rejected. It is however nevertheless available as a preprint on BioRXiv
    https://raphazlab.wordpress.com/2015/11/16/pnas-your-letter-does-not-contribute-significantly-to-the-discussion-of-this-paper/

    Cheers, Raphael

  3. Maryse de la Giroday Post author

    Dear Raphaël, I’m glad to hear from you again and sorry for the delay in responding. That wonderful piece by Schneider inspired me so I have published a followup posting, http://www.frogheart.ca/?p=19008 Good luck on getting this debate opened up. As I noted, while I can’t venture an opinion on the science, your (and David Mason’s) argumentation seems thoughtful enough to merit a little more consideration than you received from PNAS. All the best, Maryse

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