Simultaneous Induction and Self‐Reporting of Nucleolar Stress by a Nucleolus‐Targeted Platinum(II) Complex via Lifetime Imaging

B Bin Liu J Jing Yang A Angela Sin‐Yee Law (Institute of Molecular Functional Materials State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road Hong Kong People's Republic of China) X Xu‐Xian Su (MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry State Key Laboratory of Anti‐Infective Drug Discovery and Development Institute of Green Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Functional Molecular Engineering School of Chemistry Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou 510006 People's Republic of China) Z Ziyong Chen (Institute of Molecular Functional Materials, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China) M Ming‐Yi Leung (Institute of Molecular Functional Materials State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road Hong Kong People's Republic of China) M Michael Ho‐Yeung Chan (Institute of Molecular Functional Materials State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road Hong Kong People's Republic of China) E Eric Ka‐Ho Wong (Institute of Molecular Functional Materials State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road Hong Kong People's Republic of China) Q Qian Cao Z Zong‐Wan Mao (MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry State Key Laboratory of Anti‐Infective Drug Discovery and Development Institute of Green Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Functional Molecular Engineering School of Chemistry Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou 510006 People's Republic of China) V Vivian Wing‐Wah Yam (Institute of Molecular Functional Materials State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road Hong Kong People's Republic of China)

Abstract

Abstract The nucleolus exhibits characteristic viscous fluid dynamics, whereas nucleolar stress plays a key role in carcinogenesis. However, monitoring nucleolar viscosity in living cells remains a great challenge, which also leads to the lack of a clear report on the relationship between nucleolar viscosity and nucleolar stress. Herein, a nucleolus‐targeted platinum(II) complex with monodentate ligands ( Pt2 ) has been developed, which can rapidly accumulate in the nucleolus and inhibit ribosome biogenesis through energy‐dependent signaling pathways, eventually inducing nucleolar stress and simultaneously monitoring nucleolar viscosity via phosphorescence lifetime imaging (PLIM). The phosphorescence response of Pt2 to viscosity is achieved by suppressing the structural distortion to the non‐emissive d–d excited state and restricting the rotation of Pt─N coordination bonds, which is different from other commonly reported viscosity probes in the literature. After exposure to Pt2 or other antineoplastic agents, which can induce nucleolar stress, the gradual decrease of nucleolar viscosity is observed in living cells in a quantitative and real‐time manner, indicating that nucleolar viscosity can be used as a real‐time monitor of the extent of nucleolar stress. This work reports the first example of a metal complex that can achieve simultaneous induction and self‐reporting of nucleolar stress via PLIM of nucleolar viscosity.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 50
Published December 08, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

B

Bin Liu

J

Jing Yang

A

Angela Sin‐Yee Law

Institute of Molecular Functional Materials State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road Hong Kong People's Republic of China

X

Xu‐Xian Su

MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry State Key Laboratory of Anti‐Infective Drug Discovery and Development Institute of Green Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Functional Molecular Engineering School of Chemistry Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou 510006 People's Republic of China

Z

Ziyong Chen

Institute of Molecular Functional Materials, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China

M

Ming‐Yi Leung

Institute of Molecular Functional Materials State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road Hong Kong People's Republic of China

M

Michael Ho‐Yeung Chan

Institute of Molecular Functional Materials State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road Hong Kong People's Republic of China

E

Eric Ka‐Ho Wong

Institute of Molecular Functional Materials State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road Hong Kong People's Republic of China

Q

Qian Cao

Z

Zong‐Wan Mao

MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry State Key Laboratory of Anti‐Infective Drug Discovery and Development Institute of Green Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Functional Molecular Engineering School of Chemistry Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou 510006 People's Republic of China

V

Vivian Wing‐Wah Yam

Institute of Molecular Functional Materials State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road Hong Kong People's Republic of China