Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2025
Synthesis of an In vivo MRI-detectable Apoptosis Probe
Published on: July 31, 2012
Advances in small-molecule fluorescent probes for the study of apoptosis
Ya-Xi Ye1, Jian-Cheng Pan2, Hai-Chao Wang1
1Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Biology and Food Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, P. R. China. hsxyzxt@163.com.
Abstract:
Apoptosis, as type I cell death, is an active death process strictly controlled by multiple genes, and plays a significant role in regulating various activities. Mounting research indicates that the unique modality of cell apoptosis is directly or indirectly related to different diseases including cancer, autoimmune diseases, viral diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, etc. However, the underlying mechanisms of cell apoptosis are complicated and not fully clarified yet, possibly due to the lack of effective chemical tools for the nondestructive and real-time visualization of apoptosis in complex biological systems. In the past 15 years, various small-molecule fluorescent probes (SMFPs) for imaging apoptosis in vitro and in vivo have attracted broad interest in related disease diagnostics and therapeutics. In this review, we aim to highlight the recent developments of SMFPs based on enzyme activity, plasma membranes, reactive oxygen species, reactive sulfur species, microenvironments and others during cell apoptosis. In particular, we generalize the mechanisms commonly used to design SMFPs for studying apoptosis. In addition, we discuss the limitations of reported probes, and emphasize the potential challenges and prospects in the future. We believe that this review will provide a comprehensive summary and challenging direction for the development of SMFPs in apoptosis related fields.
Insights
Small-molecule fluorescent probes (SMFPs) enable real-time visualization of apoptosis, a crucial cell death process implicated in diseases like cancer. This review highlights recent SMFP developments for improved apoptosis research and diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is vital for biological regulation and implicated in numerous diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
- Understanding apoptosis mechanisms is hindered by the lack of effective tools for real-time, non-destructive visualization in biological systems.
- Small-molecule fluorescent probes (SMFPs) have emerged as powerful tools for imaging apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, aiding disease diagnostics and therapeutics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in small-molecule fluorescent probes (SMFPs) designed for apoptosis imaging.
- To summarize common design strategies for SMFPs targeting apoptosis.
- To discuss current limitations and future prospects of SMFPs in apoptosis research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on SMFPs developed over the past 15 years for apoptosis imaging.
- Categorization of SMFPs based on their targeting mechanisms (e.g., enzyme activity, plasma membrane changes, reactive species, microenvironment).
- Analysis of probe design principles and their application in studying apoptosis.
Main Results:
- Recent SMFPs leverage diverse mechanisms, including enzyme activity, plasma membrane alterations, reactive oxygen/sulfur species, and microenvironmental changes, for apoptosis detection.
- Generalizable design principles for SMFPs targeting apoptosis have been identified.
- SMFPs offer significant potential for in vitro and in vivo apoptosis imaging, contributing to disease diagnostics and therapeutics.
Conclusions:
- SMFPs are indispensable tools for advancing our understanding of apoptosis and its role in various diseases.
- Continued development of novel SMFPs with enhanced sensitivity, specificity, and real-time imaging capabilities is crucial.
- This review provides a comprehensive overview and identifies future research directions for SMFPs in apoptosis-related fields.
More Related Videos
10:45Monitoring Cleaved Caspase-3 Activity and Apoptosis of Immortalized Oligodendroglial Cells using Live-cell Imaging and Cleaveable Fluorogenic-dye Substrates Following Potassium-induced Membrane Depola
Published on: January 13, 2012
07:34Modified Annexin V/Propidium Iodide Apoptosis Assay For Accurate Assessment of Cell Death
Published on: April 24, 2011
Related Concept Videos
01:19Protein Dynamics in Living Cells
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...
03:31Labeling DNA Probes
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...