ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the exciting progress in design and application of novel candidate reporter genes that may allow detection of the transcriptional regulation of gene expression by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Dynamic spatial mapping of gene expression in whole animals is one of the central challenges of molecular imaging in general and MRI in particular. One way to monitor gene expression is to utilize reporter genes, which upon delivery to cells or animal models assist in following gene localization and transcriptional regulation. Molecular imaging methods provide powerful means for studying gene function through the use of reporter genes, namely, nucleic acid sequences encoding easily detectable proteins, which upon delivery to cells or animal models assist in following the spatial and temporal transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Spatial control depends on the availability of specific transcription regulatory elements or promoters that will limit the expression of transgene to the desired cell or tissue.
