Rapid and selective visualization of mitochondrial hypochlorite by a red region water-soluble fluorescence probe.

Abstract Hypochlorite (-OCl) has long been recognized as an effective microbicidal agent in immune system. Herein, we report the design, preparation and spectral characteristics of a -OCl fluorescent probe (FI-Mito). The probe exhibited remarkable fluorescence turn-on signal in the red region upon -OCl titration with the detection limit as low as 0.9 nM. FI-Mito displayed specific response for -OCl in completely aqueous solution. Meanwhile, the introduction of quaternized pyridine realized mitochondria-targeting ability. FI-Mito was further applied to monitor the generation of endogenous -OCl in the mitochondria of macrophage cells and mice. Therefore, it was established that FI-Mito may serve as a useful molecular tool for -OCl detection in vivo.