Site-specific fluorescence labelling of RNA using bio-orthogonal reaction of trans-cyclooctene and tetrazine

This communication describes a general approach for site-specific fluorescence labelling of RNA using a cytidine triphosphate (CTP) analogue derivatized with a trans-cyclooctene group. The analogue was efficiently incorporated into a model RNA strand using in vitro transcription. Bio-orthogonal reaction with fluorescein-labelled tetrazine was utilized to fluorescently tag the synthetic RNA strand.