Imaging enzyme-triggered self-assembly of small molecules inside live cells

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Cellular Biology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Small molecule self-assembly in water forms nanofibres, useful for biomaterials and cellular process regulation.
• Studying intracellular self-assembly is challenging due to the lack of convenient imaging methods.
• Developing systems for intracellular regulation requires understanding self-assembly dynamics within cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a novel method for imaging enzyme-triggered self-assembly of small molecules within live cells.
• To enable the evaluation of intracellular self-assembly, dynamics, and localization of nanofibres.
• To explore supramolecular chemistry in cellular environments and its potential applications.

Main Methods:

• A precursor molecule was synthesized by linking a fluorophore to a self-assembly motif.
• Enzyme-triggered conversion of the precursor to a hydrogelator was confirmed using (31)P NMR and rheology.
• Imaging of nanofibre formation and intracellular behavior was performed in live cells.

Main Results:

• The enzyme-triggered conversion successfully formed a hydrogel via self-assembly.
• The nanofibres generated sufficient imaging contrast for intracellular observation.
• The method allowed for the evaluation of intracellular self-assembly, dynamics, and localization of the nanofibres.

Conclusions:

• The developed imaging method facilitates the study of supramolecular chemistry inside live cells.
• This approach can lead to new insights into cellular processes and the development of novel biomaterials.
• The technique opens possibilities for creating sophisticated intracellular systems for biological regulation.