A modular assembly of water-soluble diarylethenes (DAEs), applicable as
biomarkers for optical nanoscopy, is reported. Reversibly photoswitchable
1,2-bis(2-alkyl-6-phenyl-1-benzothiophene-1,1-dioxide-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentenes
possessing a fluorescent “closed” form were decorated with one or two methoxy
group(s) attached to the para-position(s) of phenyl ring(s) and two, four,
or eight carboxylic acid groups. Antibody conjugates of these DAEs feature
low aggregation, efficient photoswitching in aqueous buffers, specific
staining of cellular structures, and photophysical properties (high emission
efficiencies and low cycloreversion quantum yields) enabling their application
in superresolution microscopy. Images of tubulin, vimentin, and nuclear
pore complexes are presented. The superresolution images can also be acquired
by using solely 488 nm light without additional photoactivation with UV
light. These DAEs exhibit reversible photoswitching without requiring any
additives to the imaging media and open new paths toward the modular design
of fluorescent dyes for bioimaging with optical superresolution.
Fluorescent photoswitchable Diarylethenes for biolabeling and single-molecule localization microscopies with optical superresolution
B. Roubinet, M. Weber, H. Shojaei, M. Bates, M. L. bossi, V. N. Belov,
M. Irie, S. W. Hell
J. Am. Chem. Soc.,
139, 6611-6620 (2017)