PUBLICATION

Photocaged Hoechst enables subnuclear visualization and cell selective staining of DNA in vivo

Authors
Lämmle, C.A., Varady, A., Müller, T.G., Sturtzel, C., Riepl, M., Mathes, B., Eichhorst, J., Sporbert, A., Lehmann, M., Kräusslich, H.G., Distel, M., Broichhagen, J.
ID
ZDB-PUB-201002-164
Date
2020
Source
Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology   22(3): 548-556 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Distel, Martin, Sturtzel, Caterina, Varady, Adam
Keywords
DNA, Hoechst, Microscopy, labelling, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • DNA/chemistry*
  • Epithelial Cells/chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Light
  • Luminescent Proteins/chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Photochemical Processes
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
32974998 Full text @ Chembiochem
Abstract
Selective targeting of DNA by means of fluorescent labelling has become a mainstay in the life sciences. While genetic engineering serves as a powerful technique and allows for the visualization of nucleic acid by using DNA-targeting fluorescent fusion proteins in a cell-type and subcellular specific manner, it relies on the introduction of foreign genes. On the other hand, DNA-binding small fluorescent molecules can be used without genetic engineering but they are not spatially restricted. Here, we report a photocaged version of the DNA dye Hoechst33342 (pcHoechst), which can be uncaged using UV to blue light for the selective staining of chromosomal DNA in subnuclear regions of live cells. Expanding its application to a vertebrate model organism, we demonstrate uncaging in epithelial cells and short-term cell tracking  in vivo  in zebrafish. We envision pcHoechst as a valuable tool for targeting and interrogating DNA with precise spatiotemporal resolution in living cells and wild-type organisms.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping