Fluorescence Imaging of Mitochondria with Three Different Sets of Signals Based on Fluorene Cation Fluorescent Probe

Precise and long-term tracking of mitochondria in neurons using a bioconjugatable and photostable AIE luminogen

Tracking mitochondrial movement in neurons is an attractive but challenging research field as dysregulation of mitochondrial motion is associated with multiple neurological diseases. To realize accurate and long-term tracking of mitochondria in neurons, we elaborately designed a novel aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active luminogen, TPAP-C5-yne, where we selected a cationic pyridinium moiety to target mitochondria and employed an activated alkyne terminus to achieve long-term tracking through bioconjugation with amines on mitochondria. For the first time, we successfully achieved the accurate analysis of the motion of a single mitochondrion in live primary hippocampal neurons and the long-term tracking of mitochondria for up to a week in live neurons. Therefore, this new AIEgen can be used as a potential tool to study the transport of mitochondria in live neurons.

Using QSAR Models to Predict Mitochondrial Targeting by Small-Molecule Xenobiotics Within Living Cells

Prediction of mitochondrial targeting, or prediction of exclusion from mitochondria, of small-molecule xenobiotics (biocides, drugs, probes, toxins) can be achieved using an algorithm derived from QSAR modeling. Application of the algorithm requires knowing the chemical structures of all ionic species of the xenobiotic compound in question, and for certain numerical structure parameters (AI, CBN, log P, pK _a, and Z) to be obtained for all such species. Procedures for specification of the chemical structures; estimation of the structure parameters; and application of the algorithm are described in an explicit protocol.