New β-carboline fluorophores with superior sensitivity and endoplasmic reticulum specificity for tracking ER changes

Abstract

Autofluorescing carboline-fluors were efficiently and rationally developed via a Pictet–Spengler involved one-pot multi-component reaction. The carboline-fluors demonstrate specific targeting towards the endoplasmic reticulum in living cells, and superior sensitivity to commercial ER-Trackers. Importantly, they were also successfully used to visualize changes in the ER during cell apoptosis and ER stress.