In Situ Lysosomal Cysteine-Specific Targeting and Imaging During Dexamethasone-Induced Apoptosis

Herein we utilize the similar though divergent nucleophilic properties of cysteine, homocysteine, and glutathione to achieve the selective detection of cysteine under mildly acidic conditions. This enables the specific in situ detection of lysosomal cysteine. Employing time-dependent fluorescent imaging of probe-labeled A549 cells, we demonstrate that dexamethasone-induced apoptosis is not dependent on lysosomal cysteine. This methodology can thus produce useful information about pathogenesis associated with cysteine and lysosomes.