A unique fluorescent probe for visualization of cell death via its subcellular immigration from lysosomes to nucleus

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Fluorescent probes capable of simultaneous visualization of cell death, lysosomes, and nucleus are significant molecular tools essential for the in-depth understanding on cell death. However, such probes have not been devoted yet. In this work, by modifying two alkalescence groups onto naphthimide and tuning the DNA affinity, we obtained a fluorescent probe enabling visualization of cell death via its subcellular immigration between lysosomes and nucleus. In living cells, the probe exclusive targeted lysosomes to give intense fluorescence. During cell death, the probe was released from lysosomes and immigrated into the nucleus. Since lysosomes localized in cytoplasm which exhibited a clear boundary from the nucleus, the cell death could be conveniently monitored via the subcellular localization of the probe molecules. In this manner, the lysosomes, nucleus, and cell death could be visualized concurrently with the probe. The cell death induced by H2O2 has been imaged, and the cell apoptosis caused by rotenone was also successfully visualized by means of the newly designed fluorescent probe. The probe is potential to deep our understanding on cell death in a new aspect, and is also a desirable tool to study the interaction between cell death, lysosomes, and nucleus.