Rhodamine-Based Cyclic Hydroxamate as Fluorescent pH Probe for Imaging of Lysosomes

Monitoring the microenvironment within specific cellular regions is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of life events. Fluorescent probes working in different ranges of pH regions have been developed for the local imaging of different pH environments. Especially, rhodamine-based fluorescent pH probes have been of great interest due to their ON/OFF fluorescence depending on the spirolactam ring's opening/closure. By introducing the N-alkyl-hydroxamic acid instead of the alkyl amines in the spirolactam of rhodamine, we were able to tune the pH range where the ring opening and closing of the spirolactam occurs. This six-membered cyclic hydroxamate spirolactam ring of rhodamine B proved to be highly fluorescent in acidic pH environments. In addition, we could monitor pH changes of lysosomes in live cells and zebrafish.

Automated summary

Monitoring the microenvironment within specific cellular regions is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of life events. Fluorescent probes working in different pH ranges have been developed for localized imaging. The introduction of N-alkyl-hydroxamic acid in rhodamine-based fluorescent pH probes allows for tuning the pH range of ring opening and closing. These probes have been successfully used for monitoring lysosomal pH changes in live cells and zebrafish.