Cell-permeable fluorescent indicator for imaging formaldehyde activity in living systems

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Cell Biology
• Chemical Biology

Background:

• Formaldehyde (FA) is a reactive signaling molecule involved in numerous cellular pathways.
• Previous methods lacked systematic approaches for detecting and imaging intracellular FA, especially in transiently permeable cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel cell-permeable fluorescent probe for enhanced detection and imaging of endogenous formaldehyde.
• To investigate the roles and functions of FA in living systems using advanced imaging techniques.

Main Methods:

• Development of a cell-permeable fluorescence probe with enhanced cellular entry and intracellular retention.
• Implementation of a "multi-lock system -key-and-lock" strategy for targeted FA monitoring.
• Utilizing a "latent" fluorophore with a self-immolative spacer for FA detection.

Main Results:

• The developed probe demonstrated enhanced cellular entry efficiency and effective intracellular retention.
• The probe successfully visualized endogenous FA changes within living cells.
• The "multi-lock system" enabled specific monitoring of FA in lysosomes.

Conclusions:

• The novel cell-permeable fluorescent probe provides a powerful tool for visualizing endogenous FA dynamics in living cells.
• This technology opens new avenues for studying FA's roles in cellular pathways and related biomedical applications.
• The probe design facilitates targeted FA detection, particularly in subcellular compartments like lysosomes.