A highly specific BODIPY-based probe localized in mitochondria for HClO imaging

Area of Science:

• Chemical sensing
• Fluorescent probes
• Mitochondrial imaging

Background:

• Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is a reactive oxygen species involved in cellular processes.
• Accurate detection of HClO is crucial for understanding its biological roles.
• Existing detection methods may lack sensitivity, selectivity, or real-time imaging capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a novel fluorescent probe for sensitive and selective HClO detection.
• To evaluate the probe's performance characteristics, including response time and detection limits.
• To demonstrate the probe's utility for imaging endogenous HClO in living cells, particularly within mitochondria.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a BODIPY-based fluorescent probe incorporating an oxime functional group.
• Characterization of the probe's photophysical properties.
• Testing the probe's response to HClO in solution, assessing selectivity against other reactive species.
• Confocal fluorescence microscopy to visualize HClO in live cells, including subcellular localization.

Main Results:

• Successful design and synthesis of the oxime-containing BODIPY fluorescent probe.
• The probe exhibited rapid response, low detection limits, and high selectivity for HClO.
• Confocal microscopy confirmed probe penetration into mitochondria.
• The probe enabled fast fluorescent imaging of endogenous HClO in living cells.

Conclusions:

• The developed BODIPY-based oxime probe is a highly effective tool for HClO determination.
• Its ability to image mitochondrial HClO offers new possibilities for studying cellular redox signaling.
• This probe advances the field of reactive oxygen species sensing in biological systems.