A targetable fluorescent probe for imaging exogenous and intracellularly formed nitroxyl in mitochondria in living cells

Nitroxyl plays crucial roles in many biological pathways and can serve as a potent therapeutic agent for the treatment of heart failure. Recent studies suggest that HNO may be produced in mitochondria and the HNO formed might have functional consequences for mitochondrial activity. However, in order to study the function of HNO in mitochondria, a suitable research method is needed. Herein, through rational design, we synthesized a new mitochondria-targeted fluorescent nitroxyl probe (Mito-HNO). The developed probe was highly selective toward HNO over other reactive nitrogen species and reducing species. In addition, the probe Mito-HNO was rapidly responsive and suitable for visualization of HNO in mitochondria in living cells. The probe is expected to be employed in further revealing the biological function of HNO in subcellular mitochondria.