'Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG)'
Abstract
Cyanine dyes show a general propensity to localize to polarized mitochondria. This mitochondriotropism was used to perform a copper-free click reaction in the mitochondria of living cells. The in organello reaction of a Cy3 and Cy5 dye led to a product that was easily traceable by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). As determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy, the Cy3-Cy5 conjugate showed enhanced retention in mitochondria as compared to the starting compounds. This enhancement of a favorable property can be achieved by synthesis in organello but not outside mitochondria
