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Updated: Dec 8, 2025
Multi-color Localization Microscopy of Single Membrane Proteins in Organelles of Live Mammalian Cells
Published on: June 30, 2018
Simultaneously and Selectively Imaging a Cytoplasm Membrane and Mitochondria Using a Dual-Colored Aggregation-Induced
Yue Zheng1, Yiwen Ding1, Jiajun Ren2
1Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory for Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
Researchers developed a novel dual-colored fluorescent probe to simultaneously image cell membranes and mitochondria. This probe allows for the dynamic monitoring of organelle changes during cell death processes like apoptosis and necrosis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Imaging
Background:
- Understanding cellular processes requires analyzing subcellular organelles like the cell membrane and mitochondria.
- Simultaneous and selective imaging of multiple organelles is crucial but challenging due to limitations in molecular probe design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel fluorescent probe for simultaneous, dual-color visualization of cell membranes and mitochondria.
- To utilize the probe for monitoring dynamic organelle changes during induced apoptosis and necrosis.
Main Methods:
- Development of a dual-colored aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probe, TPNPDA-C12, incorporating twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) characteristics.
- Simultaneous imaging of cell membranes and mitochondria in live cells using distinct fluorescence channels.
- Monitoring organelle dynamics during induced apoptosis and necrosis using the developed probe.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized and characterized the TPNPDA-C12 probe, enabling simultaneous visualization of cell membranes and mitochondria.
- Demonstrated the probe's ability to distinguish dynamic organelle changes during reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytotoxin-induced apoptosis and necrosis.
- The probe exhibits distinct fluorescence channels for selective organelle labeling.
Conclusions:
- The developed TPNPDA-C12 probe is effective for simultaneous and selective imaging of cell membranes and mitochondria.
- This probe provides a valuable tool for studying dynamic organelle alterations in cellular processes, particularly cell death pathways.
