Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

A polarity dependent fluorescence "switch" in live cells.

Michael W Berns1, Tatiana Krasieva, Chung-Ho Sun

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Beckman Laser Institute, University of California, 1002 Health Sciences Rd. East, Irvine, CA 92612, USA. mberns@laser.bli.uci.edu

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology
|July 13, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a photochromic fulgimide molecule that acts as a bi-stable fluorescing sensor. This sensor can be optically switched on and off within live cells, indicating environmental polarity.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effects of bio-based solvents on bacterioruberin stability and spectroscopic properties.

Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy·2026
Same author

Author Correction: Label-free human skin imaging with enhanced molecular contrast via time-resolved fluorescence and advanced phasor analysis.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Comparison of Chlorophyll and Bacteriochlorophyll Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectra and Kinetics.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Label-free human skin imaging with enhanced molecular contrast via time-resolved fluorescence and advanced phasor analysis.

Communications biology·2025
Same author

In vivo human skin imaging: Distinguishing cellular and fibrillar components with fluorescence lifetime microscopy.

The Journal of investigative dermatology·2025
Same author

Label-free multiphoton microscopy of human skin: longitudinal studies capturing cell dynamics.

Biomedical optics express·2025

Area of Science:

  • Molecular chemistry
  • Cell biology
  • Spectroscopy

Background:

  • Photochromic molecules offer tunable optical properties.
  • Fluorescence sensing requires environmentally sensitive probes.
  • Live-cell imaging demands non-toxic, targeted molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize a novel photochromic fulgimide for live-cell polarity sensing.
  • To investigate the molecule's spectroscopic and kinetic properties.
  • To evaluate its potential as a bi-stable, optically switchable sensor.

Main Methods:

  • Spectroscopic analysis (UV-Vis, fluorescence).
  • Ultrafast kinetic measurements.
  • Cellular uptake and localization studies in live cells.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Optical switching of fluorescence in situ.

    • Main Results:

    • The fulgimide exhibits switchable fluorescence dependent on environmental polarity.
    • The molecule demonstrates strong fluorescence in its polar isomeric form.
    • It enters live cells without toxicity, localizing to mitochondria.
    • Fluorescence can be repeatedly switched on and off within living cells.

    Conclusions:

    • The photochromic fulgimide functions as a bi-stable sensor for intracellular polarity.
    • Its optical switchability and live-cell compatibility are demonstrated.
    • Potential applications as a dynamic, on/off fluorescent probe in cell biology.