Two-photon fluorescent probe for detecting cell membranal liquid-ordered phase by an aggregate fluorescence method.
Yong Liu1, Fangfang Meng, Jing Nie
1Institute of Fluorescent Probes for Biological Imaging, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Shandong 250022, P. R. China. weiyinglin2013@163.com.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|April 9, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed a new two-photon (TP) fluorescent probe, TP-HVC18, for imaging cell membrane liquid-ordered (Lo) phases. This probe visualizes the discontinuous distribution of Lo phases within cell membranes using aggregate fluorescence.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Fluorescence Microscopy
Background:
- Cell membrane liquid-ordered (Lo) phases are crucial for regulating membrane structure and function.
- Developing specific probes for imaging these dynamic membrane domains is essential for understanding cellular processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a novel two-photon (TP) fluorescent probe, TP-HVC18, capable of imaging cell membranal Lo phases.
- To demonstrate the probe's utility in visualizing the distribution and structure of Lo phases within cell membranes.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of the TP-HVC18 fluorescent probe.
- Utilizing the probe's distinct fluorescence emission in aggregate and solution states.
- Employing aggregate fluorescence and 3D imaging techniques for visualizing Lo phases in vesicles and cell membranes.
Main Results:
- TP-HVC18 exhibited differential fluorescence in aggregate versus solution states and in Lo phase vesicles.
- The probe successfully imaged membranal Lo phase using aggregate fluorescence.
- TP-HVC18 revealed an uncontinuous distribution of cell membranal Lo phase via 3D imaging.
Conclusions:
- The novel TP probe TP-HVC18 is effective for imaging cell membranal Lo phases.
- The aggregation-based fluorescent platform shows potential for developing new probes for biological species detection.
