Development of triphenylamine-based fluorescent probe with a large Stokes’ shift suitable for locating mitochondria

Harnessing single fluorescent probe to image deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid in cells

The roles of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) in cells are closely related. However, the absence of molecular tools for simultaneous imaging of the two nucleic acids has prevented scientists from elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of nucleic acid interaction. The nucleic acid probes developed in recent years have ignored the regulatory relationship between DNA and RNA. Simultaneously imaging RNA and DNA in cells through a single small-molecule fluorescent probe is important. In this study, we propose a strategy for developing fluorescent probes localized to DNA and RNA to investigate their detection and imaging characteristics. The novel probe Bptp-RD has been successfully used for DNA and RNA imaging in cells. We investigated the detection and imaging characteristics of this nucleic acid probe and discovered the following: 1) the differences in the detection results of this nucleic acid probe for DNA and RNA come from the structural differences of the nucleic acids rather than chemical composition differences; 2) through using small-molecule probes to image a nucleic acid in cells, another nucleic acid can be visualized by reducing the fluorescence signal caused by DNA or RNA; 3) the order of response of the small-molecule fluorescent probe with intercalation and binding mechanisms to the type of nucleic acid structure is single chain, double chain, and ring. This work will help improve the understanding of RNA and DNA probes, and the novel probe has high potential to explore the interaction between RNA and DNA in cells.

A review: Small organic molecule dual/multi-organelle-targeted fluorescent probes

In recent years, the dual/multi-organelle-targeted fluorescent probe based on small organic molecules has good biocompatibility and can visualize the interaction between different organelles, which has attracted much attention. In addition, these probes can also be used to detect small molecules in the organelle environment, such as active sulfur species (RSS), reactive oxygen species (ROS), pH, viscosity and so on. However, the review of dual/multi-organelle-targeted fluorescent probe for small organic molecules lacks a systematic summary, which may hinder the development of this field. In this review, we will focus on the design strategies and bioimaging applications of dual/multi-organelle-targeted fluorescent probe, and classify them into six classes according to different organelles targeted. The first class probe targeted mitochondria and lysosome. The second class probe targeted endoplasmic reticulum and lysosome. The third class probe targeted mitochondria and lipid droplets. The fourth class probe targeted endoplasmic reticulum and lipid droplets. The fifth class probe targeted lysosome and lipid droplets. The sixth class multi-targeted probe. The mechanism of these probes targeting organelles and the visualization of the interaction between different organelles are emphasized, and the prospect and future development direction of this research field are prospected. This will provide a systematic idea for the development and functional research of dual/multi-organelle-targeted fluorescent probe, and promote its research in related physiological and pathological medicine field in the future.

Branching effect on triphenylamine-CF3 cyanostilbenes: enhanced emission and aggregation in water

Aggregation-induced emission and gelation behavior of symmetric and asymmetric triphenylamines