Avantika Kapoor under the supervision of Halina Anton and Pascal Didier from Andrey Klymchenko’s team, has published her paper, “Fluorescence-Based Microviscosity Mapping in Membraneless Organelles” in the journal ACS Chemical & Biomedical Imaging.
The team developed an integrated strategy combining:
- A BODIPY-based molecular rotor, whose fluorescence lifetime varies with the viscosity of the microenvironment.
- Specific HaloTag labeling to target components of membrane-less organelles.
- FLIM microscopy for quantitative, localized imaging.
This combination enables the measurement and mapping of microviscosity directly in living cells, providing a powerful tool for studying the biophysical properties of biomolecular condensates.
These membrane-less organelles, formed by phase separation, are essential for many cellular processes. Their viscosity, which is linked to their organization and function, can be disrupted in certain diseases. This approach paves the way for a better understanding of the role of the material properties of condensates in normal and pathological cellular function.
Congratulations to all the authors !
Link : https://doi.org/10.1021/cbmi.6c00048
