Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) plays important roles in diverse
physiological
processes and myriad diseases. We herein report mtDNA imaging with
a chameleon sensor containing a cationic rhodamine B (RB) entity for
mitochondria targeting and a fluorogenic SYBR Green-I (SG) entity
for DNA sensing. SG-RB selectively binds to mtDNA and gives green
SG fluorescence in mitochondria of living cells but gives red RB fluorescence
upon delivery of mitochondria into lysosomes in mitophagy. With the
dual-color imaging, mtDNA
aggregation and elevated mitophagy were identified in HeLa cells stressed
with anticancer doxorubicin. These results suggest the utility of
organelle-redirected DNA sensors for live cell imaging of mtDNA involved
in myriad pathological disorders.
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