2025/10/16 by Veselin Nasufović, Julian Kompa, Halli L. Lindamood +12 · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Engineering · #Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques #Cellular Mechanics and Interactions #Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/anie.202509285
openalex publication_date 2025/10/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/17 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Imaging actin-dependent processes in live cells is important for understanding numerous biological processes. However, currently used natural-product-based fluorescent probes for actin filaments affect the dynamics of actin polymerization and can induce undesired cellular phenotypes. Here, we introduce SiR-XActin, a simplified jasplakinolide-based, far-red fluorescent probe that enables bright and photostable staining in various cell types without requiring genetic modifications. Due to its relatively weak binding affinity, the probe exhibits minimal cytotoxicity and labels actin filaments without significantly altering actin dynamics. Furthermore, SiR-XActin is suitable for time-resolved, live-cell super-resolution STED microscopy. Exchanging the SiR fluorophore in SiR-XActin for other fluorophores yields probes in different colors. All these properties make SiR-XActin and its analogs powerful tools for studying actin dynamics using live-cell fluorescence microscopy.