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Peer-reviewedCC BYScience Advances

Real-time single-molecule imaging in zebrafish embryos uncovers noncanonical translation

  • Maëlle Bellec1
  • Jie Liang1
  • Kenny Mattonet2
  • Tatsuya Morisaki3
  • Margaux Lay1
  • Hans-Martin Maischein1
  • Damien Avinens4
  • Vincent Martinet1
  • Delphine Muriaux4
  • Timothy J. Stasevich3
  • Jérémy Dufourt4
  • Didier Y. R. Stainier1,5,6
6 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Hessen 61231, Germany.
  2. 2Imaging Platform, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Hessen 61231, Germany.
  3. 3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
  4. 4Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 9004, Université de Montpellier, 1919 Route de Mende, Montpellier 34293, Cedex 5, France.
  5. 5German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine-Main, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
  6. 6Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Bad Nauheim, Germany.
Open at sourceDOICite

Abstract

Precise spatiotemporal control of protein synthesis is essential during embryogenesis, yet directly measuring translation kinetics in vivo remains challenging in vertebrates. In particular, it remains unclear how translation efficiency is determined for key developmental regulators, and which kinetic steps limit their production. Here, we used ALFA array-based nascent chain labeling combined with lattice light-sheet microscopy to visualize bmp2b translation in real time and at single-molecule resolution in early zebrafish embryos. When combined with MS2/MCP labeling to visualize all bmp2b mRNAs, we found that only some of them are being actively translated, suggesting that limited mRNA translation competence contributes to overall translation efficiency. We found that bmp2b translation operates below a maximal initiation regime, as replacement of its UTRs with viral UTRs increases ribosome loading. Furthermore, the bmp2b , but not actb2 , 5′UTR supports cap-independent translation with ribosome loading comparable to cap-dependent initiation. Altogether, this approach provides a quantitative in vivo framework to dissect translation kinetics during early vertebrate development. Teaser Single-molecule imaging reveals bmp2b translation dynamics and cap-dependent and - independent initiation in zebrafish embryos.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{bellec2026realtime,
  title = {{Real-time single-molecule imaging in zebrafish embryos uncovers noncanonical translation}},
  author = {Maëlle Bellec and Jie Liang and Kenny Mattonet and Tatsuya Morisaki and Margaux Lay and Hans-Martin Maischein and Damien Avinens and Vincent Martinet and Delphine Muriaux and Timothy J. Stasevich and Jérémy Dufourt and Didier Y. R. Stainier},
  journal = {Science Advances},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1126/sciadv.aeb6883},
  url = {https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aeb6883},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Real-time single-molecule imaging in zebrafish embryos uncovers noncanonical translation
AU  - Maëlle Bellec
AU  - Jie Liang
AU  - Kenny Mattonet
AU  - Tatsuya Morisaki
AU  - Margaux Lay
AU  - Hans-Martin Maischein
AU  - Damien Avinens
AU  - Vincent Martinet
AU  - Delphine Muriaux
AU  - Timothy J. Stasevich
AU  - Jérémy Dufourt
AU  - Didier Y. R. Stainier
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/09
JO  - Science Advances
DO  - 10.1126/sciadv.aeb6883
UR  - https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aeb6883
AB  - Precise spatiotemporal control of protein synthesis is essential during embryogenesis, yet directly measuring translation kinetics in vivo remains challenging in vertebrates. In particular, it remains unclear how translation efficiency is determined for key developmental regulators, and which kinetic steps limit their production. Here, we used ALFA array-based nascent chain labeling combined with lattice light-sheet microscopy to visualize bmp2b translation in real time and at single-molecule resolution in early zebrafish embryos. When combined with MS2/MCP labeling to visualize all bmp2b mRNAs, we found that only some of them are being actively translated, suggesting that limited mRNA translation competence contributes to overall translation efficiency. We found that bmp2b translation operates below a maximal initiation regime, as replacement of its UTRs with viral UTRs increases ribosome loading. Furthermore, the bmp2b , but not actb2 , 5′UTR supports cap-independent translation with ribosome loading comparable to cap-dependent initiation. Altogether, this approach provides a quantitative in vivo framework to dissect translation kinetics during early vertebrate development. Teaser Single-molecule imaging reveals bmp2b translation dynamics and cap-dependent and - independent initiation in zebrafish embryos.
SN  - 2375-2548
ER  -