An ultrasensitive near-infrared ratiometric fluorescent probe for imaging mitochondrial polarity in live cells and in vivo.

ABSTRACT: Mitochondrial polarity is a crucial characteristic of these indispensable organelles, and tremendously impacts cellular events. Herein, we describe a new mitochondria-targeting fluorescent probe MCY-BF2 that is singularly sensitive and specifically responsive to mitochondrial polarity. The pull-push system in the conjugated structure of MCY-BF2 is responsible for the polarity-ultrasensitivity due to the excited state intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). By combining with cardiolipin, MCY-BF2 preferentially accumulates in mitochondria. Because the fluorescence emission wavelengths exhibit an obvious red-shift with increasing media polarity, the fluorescence intensity ratio at two different wavelengths versus the solvent dielectric constant can quantify the mitochondrial polarity. Experimen

SUBMITTER: Xiao H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5964966 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature