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Updated: Dec 24, 2025
A Simple and Rapid Protocol for Measuring Neutral Lipids in Algal Cells Using Fluorescence
Published on: May 30, 2014
A highly selective AIE fluorogen for lipid droplet imaging in live cells and green algae
Erjing Wang1, Engui Zhao, Yuning Hong
1HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st RD, South Area, Hi-tech Park, Nanshan, Shenzhen, 518057, China. tangbenz@ust.hk.
Abstract:
Lipid droplets (LDs) are subcellular organelles for energy storage and lipid metabolism regulation. Here we report an aggregation-induced emission-active fluorogen, TPE-AmAl, for specific LD imaging. TPE-AmAl is cell-permeable: upon entering the live cells, the dye molecules can selectively accumulate in the LDs and turn on the fluorescence. TPE-AmAl possesses twisted intramolecular charge transfer properties as well: the emission colour in the hydrophobic LDs is blue-shifted by >100 nm than that in aqueous buffers. Compared with the commercial lipid droplet dye, TPE-AmAl demonstrates the advantages of low background, short staining time, high selectivity, excellent biocompatibility, and good photostability. The utilization of TPE-AmAl for LD staining in green algae is also demonstrated, indicating their potential application in the high-throughput screening of high-value microalgae as a preferential biofuel source.
