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Author Spotlight: Advancing Mitochondrial Research - mtHyper7 Biosensor for Subcellular Analysis
Published on: June 2, 2023
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A deep-red fluorescent molecular rotor based on donor-two-acceptor modular system for imaging mitochondrial viscosity
Xiaoxi Yin1,2, Yiping Cai1,2, Songtao Cai1,2
1Tianjin Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Materials and Devices, Tianjin University of Technology Tianjin 300384 China hesong@tjut.edu.cn xshzeng@tjut.edu.cn +86-22-6021-6748.
RSC Advances
|May 6, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a novel deep-red fluorescent probe, DpCy7, for sensing viscosity. This molecular rotor enables sensitive detection of viscosity changes, particularly within mitochondria of living cells.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Fluorescent Probes
- Biophysical Chemistry
Background:
- Viscosity is a critical biophysical parameter influencing cellular processes.
- Developing sensitive probes for intracellular viscosity measurement remains challenging.
- Molecular rotors offer potential for viscosity sensing through rotation-dependent fluorescence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize a novel donor-two-acceptor modular fluorescence rotor (DpCy7).
- To investigate the photophysical properties of DpCy7 in response to viscosity.
- To evaluate the utility of DpCy7 for monitoring intracellular viscosity, specifically in mitochondria.
Main Methods:
- Chemical synthesis of the DpCy7 probe.
- Spectroscopic analysis (fluorescence intensity, lifetime) in glycerol-aqueous solutions.
- Cellular imaging experiments using HeLa cells to assess mitochondrial viscosity.
Main Results:
- DpCy7 exhibits strong turn-on deep-red emission (8.5-fold increase) with a large Stokes shift.
- Fluorescence intensity and lifetime show a linear correlation with viscosity in logarithmic plots.
- DpCy7 successfully visualizes mitochondrial viscosity changes in living HeLa cells.
Conclusions:
- DpCy7 functions as an effective deep-red fluorescence rotor for viscosity sensing.
- The probe demonstrates sensitivity to viscosity changes at physiological pH.
- DpCy7 offers a promising platform for subcellular viscosity determination, particularly in mitochondria.
