Live-cell imaging of the nucleolus and mapping mitochondrial viscosity with a dual function fluorescent probe

Abstract

Visualization of sub-cellular organelles allows the determination of various cellular processes and the underlying mechanisms. Herein, we report a fluorescent probe, bearing push–pull substituents emitting at 600 nm and its application in cellular imaging. The probe shows dual imaging of mitochondria and nucleoli and maps mitochondrial viscosity in live cells under various physiological variations and show minimum cytotoxicity. Nucleolar staining is confirmed by RNAase digestion.