Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
09:00
Live Cell Imaging of Early Autophagy Events: Omegasomes and Beyond
Published on: July 27, 2013
19.4K
A Lysosome-Targeting AIEgen for Autophagy Visualization.
Chris Wai Tung Leung1,2, Zhiming Wang1,2, Engui Zhao1,2
1HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Nanshan, Shenzhen, 518057, China.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|December 22, 2015
Summary
Researchers developed AIE-LysoY, a novel morpholine-functionalized aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen), for enhanced lysosomal imaging and autophagy visualization. This new probe offers superior contrast and biocompatibility for cellular studies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Lysosomal imaging and autophagy visualization are crucial for understanding cellular processes.
- Existing imaging probes often suffer from poor contrast and photostability.
- Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) offer unique photophysical properties for bioimaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel AIEgen, named AIE-LysoY, for high-contrast lysosomal imaging.
- To investigate the potential of AIE-LysoY for visualizing autophagy.
- To evaluate the biocompatibility and photophysical properties of AIE-LysoY.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a morpholine-functionalized AIEgen (AIE-LysoY).
- Characterization of AIE-LysoY's photophysical properties, including aggregation-induced emission and excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT).
- In vitro and in vivo imaging experiments for lysosomal localization and autophagy monitoring.
Main Results:
- AIE-LysoY exhibited strong aggregation-induced emission.
- The probe demonstrated efficient lysosomal targeting and accumulation.
- AIE-LysoY showed excellent biocompatibility, large Stokes shift, superior signal-to-noise ratio, and high photostability.
- The probe successfully visualized autophagic activity.
Conclusions:
- AIE-LysoY is a highly effective AIEgen for lysosomal imaging and autophagy visualization.
- The ESIPT characteristic contributes to outstanding imaging contrast.
- AIE-LysoY presents a promising new platform for advanced cellular imaging applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:36Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
10.5K
Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
10.5K
01:27Autophagy
6.1K
Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
6.1K