RNA Detection

3D environment with high sensitivity and temporal resolution. In

this respect, recently developed super-resolution microscopy tech-

niques reaching unprecedented resolution hold great promises, as

they enable highly accurate codetection of transcripts and asso-

ciated molecules or cellular structures [170, 171]. A major future

challenge will be to bridge the gap between visualization and

functional study of RNAs in living samples. Latest developments

in genome engineering techniques [172], together with the imple-

mentation of tools to remotely control RNA activity [173], make it

now possible to manipulate RNAs. Applying such methods at the

systems-level should help comprehensively explore RNA functions,

and in particular elucidate the role of newly discovered noncoding

species or the impact of RNA binding to protein activity. Impor-

tantly, this will also provide an integrative view on posttranscrip-

tional strategies that have been adopted along evolution.

Acknowledgments

Work in F.B.’s lab is supported by the ARC (grant #PJA

20141201623), the ANR (through the RNAGRIMP research

grant and the ‘Investments for the Future’ LABEX SIGNALIFE

program # ANR-11-LABX-0028-01), and the JPND (FlySMALS

grant). The authors apologize to colleagues whose relevant studies

could not be cited because of space limitations.

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The Secret Life of RNA 19