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Live-cell single-mRNA imaging of translation is inherently challenging, demanding precise optimization of multiple imaging components. To simplify these experiments, we developed All Probes Plasmids (APPs)—a panel of plasmids encoding all the necessary probes for imaging at optimized relative expression levels. APPs incorporate widely used translation tags, fluorescent proteins, and mRNA labeling systems, streamlining both multiplexed imaging and reporter immobilization. By cotransfecting just two plasmids—a reporter and an APP—individual translation sites can be visualized in living cells with high signal-to-noise. We demonstrate how APPs facilitate high-fidelity multicolor translation imaging, long-term single-mRNA tracking, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to quantify ribosome kinetics. By lowering technical barriers and enhancing experimental flexibility, APPs provide a versatile platform for advancing single-mRNA translation research in living cells. 

mRNA translation is the ubiquitous cellular process of reading messenger-RNA strands into functional proteins. Over the past decade, large strides in microscopy techniques have allowed observation of mRNA translation at a single-molecule resolution for self-consistent time-series measurements in live cells. Dubbed Nascent chain tracking (NCT), these methods have explored many temporal dynamics in mRNA translation uncaptured by other experimental methods such as ribosomal profiling, smFISH, pSILAC, BONCAT, or FUNCAT-PLA. However, NCT is currently restricted to the observation of one or two mRNA species at a time due to limits in the number of resolvable fluorescent tags. In this work, we propose a hybrid computational pipeline, where detailed mechanistic simulations produce realistic NCT videos, and machine learning is used to assess potential experimental designs for their ability to resolve multiple mRNA species using a single fluorescent color for all species. Our simulation results show that with careful application this hybrid design strategy could in principle be used to extend the number of mRNA species that could be watched simultaneously within the same cell. We present a simulated example NCT experiment with seven different mRNA species within the same simulated cell and use our ML labeling to identify these spots with 90% accuracy using only two distinct fluorescent tags. We conclude that the proposed extension to the NCT color palette should allow experimentalists to access a plethora of new experimental design possibilities, especially for cell Signaling applications requiring simultaneous study of multiple mRNAs. 

Antibodies are indispensable tools used for a large number of applications in both foundational and translational bioscience research; however, there are drawbacks to using traditional antibodies generated in animals. These include a lack of standardization leading to problems with reproducibility, high costs of antibodies purchased from commercial sources, and ethical concerns regarding the large number of animals used to generate antibodies. To address these issues, we have developed practical methodologies and tools for generating low-cost, high-yield preparations of recombinant monoclonal antibodies and antibody fragments directed to protein epitopes from primary sequences. We describe these methods here, as well as approaches to diversify monoclonal antibodies, including customization of antibody species specificity, generation of genetically encoded small antibody fragments, and conversion of single chain antibody fragments (e.g. scFv) into full-length, bivalent antibodies. This study focuses on antibodies directed to epitopes important for mitosis and kinetochore function; however, the methods and reagents described here are applicable to antibodies and antibody fragments for use in any field.