Novel Biosensors Offer In Vivo RNA Imaging in Plants

A new biosensor allows researchers to watch RNA come to light in plants.

The Science

RNA acts as a messenger inside cells, carrying instructions from DNA that are translated into proteins that are essential for how cells function. In plants, RNA signals change rapidly as the plants grow and adjust to their environment. This helps plants respond to stress and defend against diseases. Tracking these signals is difficult because traditional methods require collecting plant tissue at multiple points in time, which is slow, costly, and can miss key events. To address this, researchers developed a technology that detects specific RNA sequences and converts them into a measurable protein output, such as a fluorescent signal. This allows scientists to observe, with the naked eye, as gene activity happens.

The Impact

This biosensor provides a powerful tool for studying how genes operate in plants. By revealing the timing and dynamics of RNA signals, the biosensor helps scientists better understand fundamental biological processes. For example, it helps us understand how plants develop and adapt as they control growth, respond to stress, and interact with their environment. This new technology can be integrated into imaging-based plant phenotyping systems. Such systems allow researchers to simultaneously visualize plants’ molecular and physiological traits. Visualizing these traits will fill a gap between different approaches to understanding plants’ molecular biology and phenotypes (observed behavior). Scientists can use this knowledge to enhance synthetic biology and genome engineering. The result will be more resilient and productive crops.

Summary

RNA plays a central role in plant biology, regulating gene expression, controlling development, and responding to both internal and environmental stimuli. Traditional methods for studying RNA dynamics in plants rely on destructive sampling, capturing only static snapshots of gene activity, making it difficult to track RNA signals in real time. To address this challenge, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a split ribozyme-based biosensor that enables in vivo detection of RNA signals by converting them into a measurable protein output. This biosensor allows scientists to observe gene expression as it happens, without requiring invasive and destructive techniques. This technology functions by utilizing a split ribozyme mechanism that activates in the presence of a target RNA, triggering the reassembly of a fluorescent protein, such as superfolder GFP (sfGFP). Successfully tested in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana, the biosensor demonstrated its ability to track both native plant RNA and foreign RNA, making it a versatile tool for plant biology and biotechnology.

By allowing scientists to monitor RNA activity in living plants, this biosensor provides a non-destructive approach to studying gene expression and regulatory dynamics. Researchers can use it to investigate how plants respond to stress, disease, and environmental changes, offering new insights into molecular pathways that drive plant adaptation and development. Additionally, the ability to detect foreign RNA in real time makes this system valuable for studying plant-pathogen interactions and developing strategies for disease resistance. Beyond basic research, this biosensor can be used to enhance synthetic biology and genome engineering by providing a readout of RNA activity. It enables researchers to determine precisely when engineered genetic modifications take effect or fail, improving feedback loops in design-build-test-learn (DBTL) cycles. These real-time insights can help optimize gene circuits, refine regulatory elements, and accelerate the development of more resilient and productive crops.

By bridging the gap between molecular biology and live-plant imaging, this innovation represents a major advancement in RNA-based plant research and biotechnology, providing scientists with a powerful tool to explore gene function, engineer genetic systems, and improve plant performance in both laboratory and field settings.

Contact

Funding

The research was supported by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, Genomic Science Program as part of the Secure Ecosystem Engineering and Design (SEED) Scientific Focus Area. This material is also based on work supported by the Center for Bioenergy Innovation of the DOE Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research Program.

Publications

Liu, Y., et al., A split ribozyme system for in vivo plant RNA imaging and genetic engineering. Plant Biotechnology Journal (2025). [DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14612]

Highlight Categories

Program: BER , BSSD

Performer: DOE Laboratory