Fluorescent Markers May Aid Cancer Diagnostics by Tracking Metabolites
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 15 Apr 2019 |
Image: New imaging technology based on fluorescent chemical probes enables visualization of what cells eat, which could aid the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer (Photo courtesy of the University of Edinburgh).
A novel class of fluorescent markers allows real‐time tracking of essential metabolites in live cells in culture and in vivo in order to trace the acquisition of metabolic profiles from human cancer cells of variable origin.
The transport and trafficking of metabolites are critical for the correct functioning of live cells. However, in situ metabolic imaging studies are hampered by the lack of fluorescent chemical structures that allow direct monitoring of small metabolites under physiological conditions with high spatial and temporal resolution.
To improve this situation, investigators at the University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom) developed a novel class of small‐sized multi‐colored fluorophores for real‐time tracking of essential metabolites in live cells. These "SCOTfluors" (small, conjugatable, orthogonal, and tunable fluorophores) permitted visualization by microscope of minute changes in cells' incorporation of metabolites within the body's tissues, making it easier to identify sites of disease.
Senior author Dr. Marc Vendrell, senior lecturer in biomedical imaging at the University of Edinburgh, said, "We have very few methods to measure what cells eat to produce energy, which is what we know as cell metabolism. Our technology allows us to detect multiple metabolites simultaneously and in live cells, by simply using microscopes. This is a very important advance to understand the metabolism of diseased cells and we hope it will help develop better therapies."
The SCOTfluors paper was published in the March 28, 2019, online edition of the journal Angewandte Chemie.
Related Links:
University of Edinburgh
The transport and trafficking of metabolites are critical for the correct functioning of live cells. However, in situ metabolic imaging studies are hampered by the lack of fluorescent chemical structures that allow direct monitoring of small metabolites under physiological conditions with high spatial and temporal resolution.
To improve this situation, investigators at the University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom) developed a novel class of small‐sized multi‐colored fluorophores for real‐time tracking of essential metabolites in live cells. These "SCOTfluors" (small, conjugatable, orthogonal, and tunable fluorophores) permitted visualization by microscope of minute changes in cells' incorporation of metabolites within the body's tissues, making it easier to identify sites of disease.
Senior author Dr. Marc Vendrell, senior lecturer in biomedical imaging at the University of Edinburgh, said, "We have very few methods to measure what cells eat to produce energy, which is what we know as cell metabolism. Our technology allows us to detect multiple metabolites simultaneously and in live cells, by simply using microscopes. This is a very important advance to understand the metabolism of diseased cells and we hope it will help develop better therapies."
The SCOTfluors paper was published in the March 28, 2019, online edition of the journal Angewandte Chemie.
Related Links:
University of Edinburgh
Latest Molecular Diagnostics News
- First of Its Kind NGS Assay for Precise Detection of BCR::ABL1 Fusion Gene to Enable Personalized Leukemia Treatment
- Urine Test to Revolutionize Lyme Disease Testing
- Simple Blood Test Could Enable First Quantitative Assessments for Future Cerebrovascular Disease
- New Genetic Testing Procedure Combined With Ultrasound Detects High Cardiovascular Risk
- Blood Samples Enhance B-Cell Lymphoma Diagnostics and Prognosis
- Blood Test Predicts Knee Osteoarthritis Eight Years Before Signs Appears On X-Rays
- Blood Test Accurately Predicts Lung Cancer Risk and Reduces Need for Scans
- Unique Autoantibody Signature to Help Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis Years before Symptom Onset
- Blood Test Could Detect HPV-Associated Cancers 10 Years before Clinical Diagnosis
- Low-Cost Point-Of-Care Diagnostic to Expand Access to STI Testing
- 18-Gene Urine Test for Prostate Cancer to Help Avoid Unnecessary Biopsies
- Urine-Based Test Detects Head and Neck Cancer
- Blood-Based Test Detects and Monitors Aggressive Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Blood-Based Machine Learning Assay Noninvasively Detects Ovarian Cancer
- Simple PCR Assay Accurately Differentiates Between Small Cell Lung Cancer Subtypes
- Revolutionary T-Cell Analysis Approach Enables Cancer Early Detection