{
  "abstract": "Visualizing the spatiotemporal dynamics of native RNA molecules with single-transcript-level sensitivity in living plant cells remains a formidable challenge due to the high background noise caused by the unique cellular architecture of plants. Here, using transiently transformed Nicotiana benthamiana cells and stable Arabidopsis thaliana lines, we present a high-signal-to-noise RNA imaging platform that couples CRISPR–dCas13X with a binding-associated fluorescence stabilization strategy. We identified a novel plant-specific degron that selectively targets unbound probes for proteasomal degradation while preserving target-associated signal in a manner consistent with binding-dependent protection, enabling high-fidelity detection of endogenous mRNA puncta with minimal perturbation. Leveraging this platform, we characterized dynamics of FT mRNA trafficking in living plant cells, including plasmodesmata-targeting, cell-to-cell trafficking, and long-distance movement. Loss-of-function analysis further identified the established RNA-binding protein GRP7 as a factor that contributes to efficient FT mRNA transport. This work establishes a useful toolkit for investigating plant RNA biology and provides mechanistic insight into the systemic transport of florigenic signals.\n\nVisualizing native RNA dynamics in living plant cells at single transcript resolution is limited by high background fluorescence. This study develops a high signal-to-noise CRISPR-dCas13X imaging platform that overcomes this barrier and provides insights into mRNA trafficking dynamics.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Microbiology and Metabolic Engineering Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China."
  ],
  "article_type": "Methods and Resources",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jiayu Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yiran Tao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yun Zhao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Miaomiao Lei"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yucheng Shen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Qicong Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Chenxu Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jiuyuan Bai",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3767-8291"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/benar7xd1vjb8.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pbio.3004043",
  "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3004043",
  "id": "benar7xd1vjb8",
  "issns": [
    "1545-7885",
    "1544-9173"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3004043",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1110|Plant Molecular Biology Research"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Nucleic acids/RNA/Antisense RNA"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Nucleic acids/RNA/Guide RNA"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Nucleic acids/RNA/Messenger RNA"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cellular types/Plant cells"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Plant cell biology/Plant cells"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Plants/Brassica/Arabidopsis thaliana"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Plants/Flowering plants/Nicotiana"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Plant science/Plant anatomy/Leaves"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Plant science/Plant cell biology/Plant cells"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Animal studies/Experimental organism systems/Model organisms/Arabidopsis thaliana"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Animal studies/Experimental organism systems/Plant and algal models/Arabidopsis thaliana"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Imaging techniques/Fluorescence imaging"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Model organisms/Arabidopsis thaliana"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220681557",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3004043&type=printable",
  "pmcid": "PMC13667925",
  "pmid": "42837420",
  "published": "2026-10-06",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/benar7xd1vjb8.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pbio.3004043",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3004043"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:03Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42837420",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42837420"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:cell biology",
      "subfield": "cell-biology"
    },
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:plant science",
      "subfield": "plant-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A binding-activated CRISPR/dCas13X imaging system enables precise RNA tracking in plants",
  "title_text": "A binding-activated CRISPR/dCas13X imaging system enables precise RNA tracking in plants",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:03Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/benar7xd1vjb8",
  "venue": "PLOS Biology",
  "versions": []
}