Development of Fluorogenic Probes for Rapid High-Contrast Imaging of Transient Nuclear Localization of Sirtuin 3

Protein labeling using fluorogenic probes enables the facile visualization of proteins of interest. Herein, we report new fluorogenic probes consisting of a rationally designed coumarin ligand for the live-cell fluorogenic labeling of the photoactive yellow protein (PYP)-tag. On the basis of the photochemical mechanisms of coumarin and the probe-tag interactions, we introduced a hydroxy group into an environment-sensitive coumarin ligand to modulate its spectroscopic properties and increase the labeling reaction rate. The resulting probe had a higher labeling reaction rate constant and a greater fluorescence OFF-ON ratio than any previously developed PYP-tag labeling probe. The probe enabled the fluorogenic labeling of intracellular proteins within minutes. Furthermore, we used our probe to investigate the localization of sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), a mitochondrial deacetylase. Although the nuclear localization of SIRT3 has been controversial, this transient nuclear localization was clearly captured by the rapid, high-contrast imaging enabled by our probe.