To date, cells had to be destroyed—for example, for transcriptome analysis—to determine which genes are currently active. However, this has so far made it impossible to observe these processes over extended periods of time.

The new method, called NTVE (Non-destructive Transcriptomics via Vesicular Export), uses virus-like particles. These particles transport messenger RNA—the active gene products—out of the living cells. The RNA is then extracted from the vesicles outside the cell and analyzed. This allows researchers to determine which genes are currently active. 

Original paper:
Armbrust N, Grosshauser M, Geilenkeuser J, Stroppel L, Jozinovic M, Levermann H, Panne T, Wißmann J, Goelitz L, Schmidt S, Orschmann T, Rusha E, Steinmaßl E, Widenmeyer F, Warsing N, Sabry M, Sultanbai A, Santl T, Geerlof A, Berezin O, Bodea SV, Moretti A, Schneider S, Theis F, Gagneur J, Truong DJ, Westmeyer GG. Non-destructive transcriptomics via vesicular export. Nat Commun. 2026 Apr 25;17(1):3812. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-72072-w. PMID: 42034633; PMCID: PMC13121718.

Source and further information:
https://www.helmholtz-munich.de/en/newsroom/news-all/artikel/reading-genetic-activity-from-living-cells-without-destroying-them