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Updated: Jan 9, 2026
Imaging Approaches to Assessments of Toxicological Oxidative Stress Using Genetically-encoded Fluorogenic Sensors
Published on: February 7, 2018
An ESIPT-based fluorescent probe for visualizing pH dynamics during oxidative stress in living system
Qiang Fei1, Jiayi Yang2, Yanbi Luo3
1State Key Laboratory of Discovery and Utilization of Functional Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Natural Products Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guiyang, 550014, PR China; Guizhou Engineering Research Center for Characteristic Flavor Perception and Quality Control of Drug-Food Homologous Resources, School of Food Science and Engineering, Guiyang University, Guiyang, 550014, PR China.
Researchers developed LYB-OH, a benzothiazole-based fluorescent probe, to monitor intracellular pH fluctuations caused by oxidative stress. This probe shows promise for diagnosing diseases linked to cellular pH imbalances.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Chemical Biology
Background:
- Cellular oxidative stress, marked by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), disrupts homeostasis and causes intracellular pH fluctuations.
- Intracellular pH is critical for cellular homeostasis, proliferation, and enzyme activity.
- Monitoring intracellular pH is essential for understanding cellular dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize a novel benzothiazole-based fluorescent probe, LYB-OH, for effective intracellular pH monitoring.
- To evaluate the photophysical properties, selectivity, stability, and reversibility of LYB-OH in vitro.
- To assess the probe's performance in biological imaging of pH changes in cells and zebrafish.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of the benzothiazole-based fluorescent probe LYB-OH.
- Characterization of photophysical properties, including large Stokes shifts (>200 nm in water).
- In vitro evaluation of selectivity, stability, and reversibility.
- In cellulo and in vivo imaging of pH changes in response to oxidative stress stimuli (H2O2, LPS) in cells and zebrafish.
Main Results:
- LYB-OH demonstrated a large Stokes shift, particularly in water (>200 nm).
- The probe exhibited good selectivity, stability, and reversibility in vitro.
- LYB-OH showed low cytotoxicity and effective pH imaging in cells.
- The probe successfully visualized intracellular pH changes in cells and zebrafish induced by oxidative stress.
Conclusions:
- LYB-OH is a promising fluorescent probe for monitoring intracellular pH fluctuations under oxidative stress.
- The probe's ability to visualize pH changes offers potential for diagnosing diseases associated with oxidative stress and pH imbalance.
- LYB-OH provides a valuable tool for cellular and in vivo pH imaging applications.
