A polarity dependent fluorescence "switch" in live cells. Academic Article

abstract

• The spectroscopic properties, ultrafast kinetics and utilization of a photochromic molecule as a bi-stable fluorescing sensor of polarity in live cells are described. This molecule is a photochromic fulgimide, 2,3-dialkylidenesuccinimide, which emits fluorescence that can be switched optically on and off. The fluorescence intensity is a function of the polarity of the molecular environment, namely it fluoresces strongly when the molecule is in its polar isomeric structure form. We demonstrate that this molecule enters live cells without inducing damage, it binds primarily to internal membranous organelles (mitochondria) and its fluorescence can be switched optically "on" and "off" repeatedly while inside the living cell. A possible use as a bi-stable, on/off sensor is discussed.

authors

• Rentzepis, Peter

published proceedings

• J Photochem Photobiol B

author list (cited authors)

• Berns, M. W., Krasieva, T., Sun, C., Dvornikov, A., & Rentzepis, P. M.

citation count

• 27

complete list of authors

• Berns, Michael W||Krasieva, Tatiana||Sun, Chung-Ho||Dvornikov, Alexander||Rentzepis, Peter M

publication date

• July 2004

publisher

• Elsevier  Publisher

published in

• Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, B: Biology  Journal

keywords

• Animals
• Cells, Cultured
• FLUORESCENCE
• Fluorescence Polarization
• Fluorescent Dyes
• Indoles
• Microscopy, Confocal
• Mitochondria
• Potoroidae
• Pyrrolidinones
• Solvents
• Spectrophotometry
• Stereoisomerism

PubMed Central ID

• 15246350

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2004.05.002

start page

• 51

end page

• 56

volume

• 75

issue

• 1-2

URL

• http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1016%2Fj.jphotobiol.2004.05.002