Tagging RNA inside cells to track it and map nearby proteins
URIL tags for intracellular RNA tracking and RNP proximity labeling
This project will create small chemical tags that stick to specific RNA patterns to light them up and mark nearby proteins in cells related to ALS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11111436 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing compact chemical probes that bind to short U-rich loops in RNA and either fluoresce or add a biotin tag to label nearby proteins. They will synthesize these bifacial peptide nucleic acid (bPNA) probes and test them in lab dishes and inside cells to see if they can track RNA location and identify interacting protein partners. The team will compare the new tagging approach to existing methods and optimize it in cellular models relevant to ALS. The work aims to reveal RNA behavior and protein interactions in native cellular context that current tools cannot easily show.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with ALS (including those with C9orf72-related disease) who would consider donating cells or biological samples for research.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical benefit should not expect personal improvement from participating, since this is a laboratory method-development project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal how mislocalized or misbound RNAs contribute to ALS and help identify new biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
How similar studies have performed: Established RNA-tagging methods like MS2 labeling exist, but this URIL-targeting chemical approach is largely novel and untested in patient-derived ALS models.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bong, Dennis — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Bong, Dennis
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.