A Photoactivatable BODIPY Probe for Localization-Based Super-Resolution Cellular Imaging

The synthesis and application of a photoactivatable boron-alkylated BODIPY probe for localization-based super-resolution microscopy is reported. Photoactivation and excitation of the probe is achieved by a previously unknown boron-photodealkylation reaction with a single low-power visible laser and without requiring the addition of reducing agents or oxygen scavengers in the imaging buffer. These features lead to a versatile probe for localization-based microscopy of biological systems. The probe can be easily linked to nucleophile-containing molecules to target specific cellular organelles. By attaching paclitaxel to the photoactivatable BODIPY, in vitro and in vivo super-resolution imaging of microtubules is demonstrated. This is the first example of single-molecule localization-based super-resolution microscopy using a visible-light-activated BODIPY compound as a fluorescent probe.