Simultaneous Detection of Carbon Monoxide and Viscosity Changes in Cells

Area of Science:

• Chemical Biology
• Cellular Imaging
• Biophysical Chemistry

Background:

• Carbon monoxide (CO) is a crucial signaling molecule in mammalian cells.
• Monitoring CO levels and cellular microenvironment changes is vital for understanding cellular processes.
• Existing probes often lack the ability to simultaneously measure CO and viscosity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel, robust, and non-toxic probes for detecting endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) in live mammalian cells.
• To create a probe capable of simultaneously measuring CO levels and microscopic viscosity.
• To investigate cellular changes under normoxic and hypoxic conditions using dual-function probes.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of ruthenium(II) vinyl probes incorporating a viscosity-sensitive BODIPY fluorophore.
• Detection of endogenous CO in live mammalian cells.
• Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) for viscosity measurements.
• Simultaneous monitoring of CO and viscosity in cellular organelles.

Main Results:

• A new family of water-compatible ruthenium(II) probes was successfully developed.
• The probes enabled rapid, selective, and sensitive detection of CO in live cells.
• Simultaneous measurement of CO levels and microscopic viscosity was achieved.
• The probes function effectively under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

Conclusions:

• These novel probes represent the first example of simultaneous CO and viscosity detection in live cell organelles.
• The probes offer a powerful tool for studying cellular dynamics and signaling.
• The non-toxic, water-compatible nature of the probes enhances their utility in biological research.