Live-Cell Mitochondrial Targeted NIR Fluorescent Covalent Labeling of Specific Proteins Using a Dual Localization Effect

Bioconjug Chem. 2023 Aug 16;34(8):1407-1417. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00185. Epub 2023 Jun 8.

Abstract

Here, our designed water-soluble NIR fluorescent unsymmetrical Cy-5-Mal/TPP+ consists of a lipophilic cationic TPP+ subunit that can selectively target and accumulate in a live-cell inner mitochondrial matrix where a maleimide residue of the probe undergoes faster chemoselective and site-specific covalent attachment with the exposed Cys residue of mitochondrion-specific proteins. On the basis of this dual localization effect, Cy-5-Mal/TPP+ molecules remain for a longer time period even after membrane depolarization, enabling long-term live-cell mitochondrial imaging. Due to the adequate concentration of Cy-5-Mal/TPP+ reached in live-cell mitochondria, it facilitates site-selective NIR fluorescent covalent labeling with Cys-exposed proteins, which are identified by the in-gel fluorescence assay and LC-MS/MS-based proteomics and supported by a computational method. This dual targeting approach with admirable photostability, narrow NIR absorption/emission bands, bright emission, long fluorescence lifetime, and insignificant cytotoxicity has been shown to improve real-time live-cell mitochondrial tracking including dynamics and interorganelle crosstalk with multicolor imaging applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Survival
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Fluorescent Dyes* / chemistry
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry*

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes