Fluorogenic Rhodamine Probes Enable High-Resolution Visualization of Plasma Membrane Nanostructures.
Zijie Luo1,2, Kaustubh R Bhuskute1,2, Yuxue Cao3
1Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|January 8, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed new fluorescent probes, RSD1 and RSD2, for clear imaging of cell membrane structures. RSD2 enables high-resolution, long-term visualization of cellular communication and transport processes.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
- Microscopy
Background:
- Plasma membrane substructures like nanotubes are vital for cell communication and transport.
- Imaging these nanoscale structures is difficult due to probe limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel fluorescent probes for robust, long-term plasma membrane imaging.
- To overcome limitations of existing probes for visualizing fine membrane structures.
Main Methods:
- Development of rhodamine-based probes (RSD1, RSD2) with specific membrane-anchoring groups.
- Testing probes for serum compatibility, brightness, and photostability.
- Utilizing advanced microscopy techniques like iSIM and dSTORM for high-resolution imaging.
Main Results:
- RSD2 exhibits superior fluorogenicity, brightness, and photoswitching for live and fixed cells.
- RSD2 achieves high-resolution imaging (up to 40 nm) and maintains specificity in serum.
- Successful visualization of nanoparticle trafficking via membrane nanotubes and migrasome imaging.
Conclusions:
- RSD2 is a versatile probe for high-resolution imaging of membrane substructures and dynamics.
- The probe facilitates research in cell biology, nanomedicine, and super-resolution imaging.
- Enables novel observations of membrane-mediated transport processes.
