Patent ID: 9012171
Filing Date: 2015-04-21
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for measuring translation activity, which comprises: labeling at least one tRNA with a first label and at least one tRNA with a second label, wherein when the first label and the second label are in proximity a detectable electromagnetic radiation is produced; introducing into a biological sample the at least one tRNA labeled with the first label and the at least one tRNA labeled with the second label, wherein said labels produce electromagnetic radiation in response to overall protein translation activity in said biological sample, wherein said biological sample is an intact cell; detecting said electromagnetic radiation from the sample; analyzing said electromagnetic radiation to produce a readout of a parameter of translation activity, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of rate of translational activity, ratio of labeled versus unlabeled tRNA, location of translation activity, and average translation speed; and comparing said readout to a reference standard thereby determining an estimate of overall translation activity in real time without identifying a protein synthesized.