Galectin Trafficking Pathway-Enabled Color-Switchable Detection of Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization

Anal Chem. 2021 Sep 21;93(37):12639-12647. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02387. Epub 2021 Sep 7.

Abstract

Lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) engaged in multiple human diseases is accompanied by relocation of cytosolic galectin into LMP+ lysosomes. We herein reported a galectin trafficking-targeted method to image LMP using two kinds of glyco-dendrimers, a sialic acid-terminated dendrimer labeled with pH-inert rhodamine and a lactose-terminated dendrimer labeled with fluorescein that becomes green-emissive in pH-elevated lysosomes. Albeit both accumulated in physiological lysosomes, the former is released from LMP+ lysosomes while the latter binds to galectin accumulated in LMP+ lysosomes and thus trapped in LMP+ lysosomes. Accordingly, LMP+ lysosomes exhibit loss of red fluorescence and turn-on green fluorescence due to loss of lysosomal acidity. This red-to-green color switch enables discernment of LMP+ lysosomes from physiological lysosomes and pH-elevated lysosomes and can be further utilized to detect LMP in distinct cell death pathways. These results suggest the utility of galectin trafficking pathway-integrated synthetic probes for detection of LMP, a key factor for diseased cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Death
  • Cytosol
  • Galectins*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Membranes
  • Lysosomes*

Substances

  • Galectins