title: Specific imaging and tracking of mitochondria in live cells by a photostable AIE luminogen.
abstract: Tracking the dynamics of mitochondrial morphology has attracted much research interest because of its involvement in early stage apoptosis and degenerative conditions. To follow this process, highly specific and photostable fluorescent probes are in demand. Commercially available mitochondria trackers, however, suffer from poor photostability. To overcome this limitation, we have designed and synthesized a fluorescent agent, tetraphenylethene-triphenylphosphonium (TPE-TPP), for mitochondrial imaging. Inherent from the mitochondrial-targeting ability of TPP groups and the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics of the TPE core, TPE-TPP possesses high specificity to mitochondria, superior photostability, and appreciable tolerance to environmental change, allowing imaging and tracking of the mitochondrial morphological changes in a long period of time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China, wtleungac@ust.hk.
authors.forename: Chris W T
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Yuning
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Ben Zhong
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D049449:Luminescence; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds