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Updated: Apr 24, 2026
Live Imaging of the Mitochondrial Glutathione Redox State in Primary Neurons using a Ratiometric Indicator
Published on: October 20, 2021
A highly sensitive, cell-membrane-permeable fluorescent probe for glutathione.
Masafumi Yoshida1, Mako Kamiya2, Tatsuya Yamasoba3
1Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113 0033, Japan; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113 0033, Japan.
Researchers developed a novel fluorescent probe, DNs-HMRG, for detecting glutathione (GSH). This sensitive probe enables rapid in vivo imaging of tiny tumors by exploiting higher GSH levels in cancerous tissues.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Glutathione (GSH) is a crucial intracellular antioxidant vital for cellular defense.
- Elevated GSH levels are characteristic of tumor tissues compared to normal tissues.
- Developing sensitive tools for GSH detection is essential for understanding redox status and disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, highly sensitive fluorescent probe for detecting intracellular glutathione (GSH).
- To investigate the probe's efficacy for rapid in vivo imaging of small tumor nodules.
- To explore its potential applications in biological studies, particularly those related to redox status.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel fluorescent probe, DNs-HMRG, utilizing intramolecular spirocyclization and photo-induced electron transfer (PeT) mechanisms.
- Assessment of probe's cell permeability and fluorescence response in living cells.
- In vivo application for detecting tiny tumor nodules in tumor-bearing mice based on differential GSH levels.
Main Results:
- The DNs-HMRG probe demonstrated good cell permeability and a rapid increase in fluorescence intensity in living cells.
- The probe enabled rapid in vivo detection of tiny tumor nodules (less than 1mm) within seconds.
- Significant fluorescence enhancement was observed in tumor tissues due to higher intracellular GSH concentrations.
Conclusions:
- The DNs-HMRG probe is a sensitive and efficient tool for detecting intracellular GSH.
- It facilitates rapid in vivo visualization of small tumors, offering a promising approach for early cancer detection.
- This probe is expected to be valuable for various biological applications, especially in redox biology research.
