Live cell imaging using DNA-binding fluorescent probes is an essential molecular tool in various biological and biomedical fields. The major challenges in currently used DNA probes are to avoid UV light photo-excitation with high DNA selectivity and cell-permeability and are the availability of the cutting-edge imaging techniques such as a super-resolution microscopy. Herein we report new orange to red fluorogenic DNA probes having N-aryl pyrido cyanine (PC) moiety as a basic skeleton. Their DNA selectivity and cell-permeabilities are so high that organelle DNA as well as nuclear DNA can be clearly stained in various cell types and plant tissues with wash-free manner. PC dyes are also compatible with a stimulated emission depletion fluorescent lifetime imaging microscopy (STED-FLIM) for super-resolution imaging as well as two-photon microscopy for deep tissue imaging, should release the utilization limitation of synthetic DNA probes.

中文翻译：

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N-芳基吡啶基花菁衍生物：用于双光子和超分辨率成像的核和细胞器DNA标记

使用DNA结合荧光探针进行的活细胞成像是各种生物学和生物医学领域必不可少的分子工具。当前使用的DNA探针的主要挑战是避免具有高DNA选择性和细胞渗透性的紫外光激发，以及诸如超分辨率显微镜等尖端成像技术的可用性。本文中，我们报告了以N-芳基吡啶菁（PC）部分为基本骨架的新的橙色至红色荧光DNA探针。它们的DNA选择性和细胞通透性非常高，以至于细胞器DNA和核DNA可以在各种细胞类型和植物组织中以免洗的方式清晰地染色。