A versatile genetic-encoded reporter for magnetic resonance imaging

It has been a long-cherished wish in biomedicine research to have an imaging tool to visualize gene expression, with good spatiotemporal resolution, in rodent and primate animals noninvasively and longitudinally. To this purpose, we here present a novel genetic encoded magnetic resonance imaging reporter, i.e., GEM reporter, for noninvasive visualization of cell-specific gene expression. The GEM reporter was developed through codon modification of a bacteria-originated manganese (Mn) binding protein, allowing the sequestration of endogenous Mn in local tissues. When expressed in bacteria, plant and animals, GEM reporter can robustly produce high image contrast in T1-weighted MRI without additional substrates or contrast agents. Importantly, GEM reporter can be tracked inherently by MRI in specific cells and tissues. These findings support GEM reporter as a versatile marker for deciphering gene expression spatiotemporally in living subjects.