Imaging of mitochondria/lysosomes in live cells and C. elegans .
Deepmala SinghRamprasad RegarPushpanjali SoppinaVirupakshi SoppinaSriram KanvahPublished in: Organic & biomolecular chemistry (2023)
Two rhodamine-phenothiazine conjugates, RP1 and RP2, were synthesized, and their photophysical properties, subcellular localization, and photocytotoxicity were investigated. We observed robust localization of RP1 in mitochondria and dual localization in mitochondria and lysosomes with RP2 in live cells. Live cell imaging with these probes allowed us to track the dynamics of mitochondria and lysosomes during ROS-induced mitochondrial damage and the subsequent lysosomal digestion of the damaged mitochondria. The fluorophores also demonstrated preferential accumulation in cancer cells compared to normal cells and had strong photo-cytotoxicity. However, no cytotoxicity was observed in the dark. The mitochondrial staining and light-induced ROS production were not limited to mammalian cell lines, but were also observed in the animal model C. elegans . The study demonstrated the potential applications of these probes in visualizing the mitochondria-lysosome cross-talk after ROS production and for photodynamic therapy.
Keyphrases
- cell death
- cell cycle arrest
- reactive oxygen species
- induced apoptosis
- oxidative stress
- photodynamic therapy
- endoplasmic reticulum
- dna damage
- living cells
- fluorescence imaging
- high resolution
- small molecule
- signaling pathway
- single molecule
- drug delivery
- mass spectrometry
- cancer therapy
- drug induced
- anaerobic digestion