Probes Useful at Acidic pH—Section 20.3

Page Contents

• LysoSensor Probes
• pHrodo pH Indicator
• Oregon Green and Dichlorofluorescein Derivatives
• Other pH Indicators for Acidic Environments
• Data Table
• Ordering Information

Eukaryotic cells contain compartments with different degrees of acidity. For example, biomolecules brought into cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis or phagocytosis (Probes for Following Receptor Binding and Phagocytosis—Section 16.1) are initially processed through organelles of decreasing pH, and specialized organelles such as plant vacuoles and the acrosome of spermatozoa are intrinsically acidic. A low intracompartmental pH activates enzymes and other protein functions—such as iron release from transferrin—that would be too slow at neutral pH, thereby facilitating cellular metabolism. Abnormal lysosomal or endosomal acidification is associated with various pathological conditions. For example, lysosomes in some tumor cells have been reported to have a lower pH than normal lysosomes, whereas other tumor cells contain lysosomes with higher pH.

The fluorescent pH indicators used to detect acidic organelles and to follow trafficking through acidic organelles must have a lower pK_a than those described in Probes Useful at Near-Neutral pH—Section 20.2. Also, unlike most pH indicators for cytosolic measurements, pH indicators for acidic organelles need not be intrinsically permeant to membranes. Often they are covalently attached to large biomolecules that are actively taken up and processed through acidic organelles by the cell's own endocytic mechanisms (Probes for Endocytosis, Receptors and Ion Channels—Chapter 16).

LysoSensor probes are weak bases that are selectively concentrated in acidic organelles as a result of protonation (Summary of the pH response of our LysoSensor probes—Table 20.2). This protonation also relieves the fluorescence quenching of the dye that results from photoinduced electron transfer (PET) by its weak-base side chain. Thus, unlike most other pH indicators in this chapter, the LysoSensor dyes become more fluorescent in acidic environments. Because accumulation of LysoSensor probes also appears to cause lysosomal alkalinization, pH measurements should be made rapidly using the lowest practicable concentration of dye.

LysoSensor Yellow/Blue Dye

LysoSensor Yellow/Blue DND-160 (L7545) undergoes a pH-dependent emission shift to longer wavelengths in acidic environments when illuminated near its excitation isosbestic point (~360 nm) (Figure 20.3.1). It also undergoes a pH-dependent excitation shift when detected near its emission isosbestic point (~490 nm) (Figure 20.3.1). These properties can be exploited for dual-emission ratio imaging of lysosomal pH () (emission ratio ~450/510 nm, excitation ~365 nm). Yellow-fluorescent staining by LysoSensor Yellow/Blue DND-160 has been used to identify lysosomes as the accumulation site for anthracyclines in a drug-resistant cell line. LysoSensor Yellow/Blue DND-160, frequently referred to by the acronym PDMPO, has been widely used as a tracer of silica deposition and transport in marine diatoms. We also offer a 10,000 MW dextran conjugate of the LysoSensor Yellow/Blue dye (L22460, pH Indicator Conjugates—Section 20.4).

LysoSensor Green and LysoSensor Blue Dyes

The green-fluorescent LysoSensor Green dyes are available with optimal pH sensitivity in either the acidic or neutral range (pK_a ~5.2 or ~7.5). The blue-fluorescent LysoSensor Blue DND-167 has a pK_a of ~5.1 (Figure 20.3.2). With their low pK_a values, LysoSensor Green DND-189 (L7535) and LysoSensor Blue DND-167 (L7533) are almost nonfluorescent except when inside acidic compartments, whereas LysoSensor Green DND-153 (contact Custom Services for more information) is brightly fluorescent, even at neutral pH. LysoSensor Green DND-189 has been used to monitor the dissipation of neurite vesicle transmembrane pH gradients by bafilomycin A1.

pHrodo pH indicator is an aminorhodamine dye that exhibits increasing fluorescence as the pH of its surroundings becomes more acidic (Figure 20.3.3). Consequently, pHrodo fluorescence (excitation/emission ~560/585 nm) provides a positive indication of processes such as phagocytic ingestion and lysosomal sequestration, in contrast to the negative indication generated by fluorescein and Oregon Green dyes. Because the pHrodo dye has more than one proteolytically ionizable substituent, it exhibits a complex pH titration profile that typically changes upon conjugation to proteins and other biomolecules. We currently offer an amine-reactive succinimidyl ester form of the pHrodo dye (P36600, pH Indicator Conjugates—Section 20.4) and various bioconjugates (pH Indicator Conjugates—Section 20.4, Probes for Following Receptor Binding and Phagocytosis—Section 16.1). In cases where the nonreactive carboxylic acid form of the dye is required, pHrodo carboxylic acid can be obtained by mild alkaline hydrolysis of the succinimidyl ester (e.g., 12-hour incubation in aqueous solution at pH 8 in the dark will yield >99.9% hydrolysis, higher pH will give a more rapid reaction).

Introduction of electron-withdrawing groups into fluorescein dyes lowers the pK_a of the phenolic group to 5 or below, as exemplified by our Oregon Green dyes and their insensitivity to pH changes in the near-neutral pH range. However, these fluorinated fluorescein dyes are still pH sensitive in moderately acidic solutions, with pK_a values of ~4.7 (Figure 20.3.4). With the exception of their lower pK_a values, the pH-dependent spectral characteristics of the Oregon Green dyes closely parallel those of other fluorescein-based dyes, allowing dual-excitation ratiometric measurements with the same general configuration used for BCECF (Probes Useful at Near-Neutral pH—Section 20.2).

The cell-permeant diacetate derivative of carboxydichlorofluorescein (carboxy-DCFDA, C369) has been used to measure the pH in acidic organelles, as well as in the cytosol and vacuoles of plants and yeast. Furthermore, the mechanism of vacuolar pH rectification following exposure to ammonia has been investigated in rice and maize root hair cells loaded with the diacetate derivative of Oregon Green 488 carboxylic acid (carboxy-DFFDA).

9-Amino-6-Chloro-2-Methoxyacridine (ACMA)

The nucleic acid stain 9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine (ACMA, A1324) apparently binds to membranes in the energized state, and its fluorescence becomes quenched if a pH gradient forms. Mechanistically, this probe resembles the membrane potential–sensitive carbocyanines (Slow-Response Probes—Section 22.3) more than the other probes in this chapter. ACMA is primarily employed to detect the proton-translocating activity of Escherichia coli ATP synthase and yeast vacuolar H⁺-ATPase.

8-Hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-Trisulfonic Acid (HPTS)

Although 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (HPTS, (H348; Probes Useful at Near-Neutral pH—Section 20.2) has a pK_a ~7.3 and is primarily used as a pH indicator in the near-neutral range, it offers several advantages for monitoring intraorganelle pH in endosomal/lysosomal pathways:

• The highly polar character that results from its three sulfonic acid groups prevents leakage across intracellular membranes.
• Uptake by fluid-phase endocytosis is efficient and easily accomplished.
• Determination of excitation ratios allows pH measurements that are independent of vesicular size and indicator concentration.
• Precise calibration permits pH values as low as 4.4 to be accurately measured.
• HPTS is nontoxic and does not perturb normal physiological function.

HPTS can be introduced into cells by microinjection, electroporation or liposome-mediated delivery or through ATP-gated ion channels. HPTS has also been loaded into cells using a patch pipette. HPTS has been reported to be less phototoxic than BCECF.

For a detailed explanation of column headings, see Definitions of Data Table Contents