Mitochondria targeted and immobilized ratiometric NIR fluorescent probe for investigating SO2 phytotoxicity in plant mitochondria

Exposure to excessive SO2 will induce severe phytotoxicity to plants. Dissecting mechanisms of SO(2 )phytotoxicity is vital for preventing adverse effect of SO2. But unfortunately, the mechanisms of SO2 phytotoxicity remain elusive. We speculated that interaction of SO2 derivatives with mitochondria might be an important mechanism for SO2 phytotoxicity. To authenticate this speculation, it is urgently need to detect SO2 derivatives in plant mitochondria when it is suffering from SO2 phytotoxicity. Herein, we presented a novel ratiometric NIR fluorescent probe for highly sensitive and selective detection of SO2 derivatives in plant mitochondria. Notably, the probe not only could target into the mitochondria, but also can immobilize in the mitochondria to continue detecting SO2 derivatives even when the mitochondrial membrane potential was collapsed by high concentration of SO2 derivatives. Importantly, the probe has been successfully employed for monitoring high concentration of SO2 derivatives in the plant mitochondria when the plant is suffering from SO2 phytotoxicity. The results demonstrated that the SO2 derivatives level in plant mitochondria is strictly associated with SO2 phytotoxicity. Thus, the interaction of SO2 derivatives with plant mitochondria could be considered as an important mechanism for SO2 phytotoxicity.

Automated summary

We developed a novel ratiometric NIR fluorescent probe for highly sensitive and selective detection of SO2 derivatives in plant mitochondria. The probe can not only target into the mitochondria but also immobilize in the mitochondria to continue detecting SO2 derivatives even when the mitochondrial membrane potential is collapsed by high concentration of SO2 derivatives. It has been successfully used to monitor high concentration of SO2 derivatives in the plant mitochondria when the plant is suffering from SO2 phytotoxicity, indicating that the interaction of SO2 derivatives with plant mitochondria could be an important mechanism for SO2 phytotoxicity.