Peng Fei, Ai Xiangnan, Bu Xiaoyu, Zhao Zixuan, Gao Baoxiang
College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China.
Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071002, China.
J Fluoresc. 2024 Sep 25. doi: 10.1007/s10895-024-03929-w.
Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) is crucial for mitochondrial function and serves as a key indicator of cellular health and metabolic activity. Traditional lipophilic cationic fluorescence intensity probes are unavoidably influenced by probe concentration, laser intensity, and photobleaching, limiting their accuracy. To address these issues, we designed and synthesized a pair of fluorescence molecules, OR-C8 and SiR-BA, based on the Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) mechanism, for dual-modality visualization of MMP. OR-C8 anchors to the inner mitochondrial membrane through strong hydrophobic interactions, while SiR-BA is expelled from mitochondria when MMP decreases, thereby regulating the FRET process. During MMP reduction, the fluorescence intensity and lifetime of OR-C8 increase, while the fluorescence intensity of SiR-BA decreases. By combining changes in fluorescence intensity ratio and fluorescence lifetime, dual-modality visualization of MMP was achieved. This method not only accurately reflects MMP changes but also provides a novel tool for in-depth studies of mitochondrial function and related disease mechanisms, offering significant potential for advancing mitochondrial research and therapeutic development.
线粒体膜电位（MMP）对于线粒体功能至关重要，是细胞健康和代谢活动的关键指标。传统的亲脂性阳离子荧光强度探针不可避免地受到探针浓度、激光强度和光漂白的影响，限制了其准确性。为了解决这些问题，我们基于荧光共振能量转移（FRET）机制设计并合成了一对荧光分子OR-C8和SiR-BA，用于MMP的双模态可视化。OR-C8通过强疏水相互作用锚定在内线粒体膜上，而当MMP降低时，SiR-BA从线粒体中排出，从而调节FRET过程。在MMP降低过程中，OR-C8的荧光强度和寿命增加，而SiR-BA的荧光强度降低。通过结合荧光强度比和荧光寿命的变化，实现了MMP的双模态可视化。该方法不仅准确反映了MMP的变化，还为深入研究线粒体功能和相关疾病机制提供了一种新工具，为推进线粒体研究和治疗发展具有重要潜力。
