Abstract
A model betalainic dye was semisynthesized from betanin, the magenta pigment of the red beet, and was effective for live-cell imaging of Plasmodium-infected red blood cells. This water-soluble fluorescent probe is photostable, excitable in the visible region and cell membrane-permeable, and its photophysical properties are not notably pH-sensitive. Fluorescence imaging microscopy of erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum, a causative agent of malaria in humans, showed that only the parasite was stained. Z-stacking analysis suggested that the probe accumulates proximal to the nucleus of the parasite. Indicaxanthin, one of the natural fluorescent betalains found in the petals of certain flowers, did not stain the parasite or the red blood cell.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Betalains / chemistry*
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Biomimetic Materials / chemical synthesis
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Biomimetic Materials / chemistry
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Biomimetic Materials / metabolism*
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Cell Survival
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Coumarins / chemistry
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Erythrocytes / cytology*
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Erythrocytes / metabolism
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Erythrocytes / parasitology*
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Fluorescent Dyes / chemical synthesis
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Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
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Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism*
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Mice
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Microscopy, Fluorescence
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Molecular Imaging / methods*
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Plasmodium falciparum / physiology*
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Pyridines / chemistry
Substances
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Coumarins
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Fluorescent Dyes
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Pyridines
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betalamic acid
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Betalains
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7-amino-4-methylcoumarin
Grants and funding
Funding was provided by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (07/00684-6, 10/15042-2, 11/23036-5). LCPG was supported by a FAPESP fellowship (07/59407-1) and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (PNPD 427-10/2009) fellowship. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.