Advanced CRISPR Technologies for RNA Imaging in Live Cells

RNA plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gene expression, and its spatiotemporal dynamics are critical for elucidating fundamental biological processes and disease mechanisms. However, traditional RNA imaging methods, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and the MS2-GFP system, often require cell fixation, suffer from low labeling efficiency, or interfere with native RNA functionthus limiting their ability to monitor RNA behavior in living cells. In recent years, CRISPR technology has rapidly emerged as a powerful tool for live-cell RNA imaging due to its high target specificity, signal amplification capability, and excellent compatibility with living systems. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in CRISPR-based live-cell RNA imaging, highlighting its imaging principles, technical advantages, and representative applications.