A Maleimide-functionalized Tetraphenylethene for Measuring and Imaging Unfolded Proteins in Cells.

Collapse of the protein homeostasis (proteostasis) can lead to accumulation and aggregation of unfolded proteins, which has been found to associate with a number of disease conditions including neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and inflammation. Here we report a maleimide-functionalized tetraphenylethene (TPE)-derivatized fluorescent dye, TPE-NMI, which shows fluorescence turn-on property upon reacting with unfolded proteins in vitro and in live cells under proteostatic stress conditions. The level of unfolded proteins can be measured by flow cytometry and visualized with confocal microscopy.

9-Vinylanthracene Based Fluorogens: Synthesis, Structure-Property Relationships and Applications.

Fluorescent dyes with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties exhibit intensified emission upon aggregation. They are promising candidates to study biomolecules and cellular changes in aqueous environments when aggregation formation occurs. Here, we report a group of 9-position functionalized anthracene derivatives that were conveniently synthesized by the palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction.