Harnessing Dual-Fluorescence Lifetime Probes to Validate Regulatory Mechanisms of Organelle Interactions.

Organelles are dynamic yet highly organized to preserve cellular homeostasis. However, the absence of time-resolved molecular tools for simultaneous dual-signal imaging of two organelles has prevented scientists from elucidating organelle interaction regulatory mechanisms on a nanosecond timescale. To date, the regulatory mechanisms governing the interaction between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and autophagosomes are unknown. In this study, we propose a strategy for developing dual-fluorescence lifetime probes localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and autophagosomes to investigate their interaction regulatory mechanisms. Using the robust probe , we investigated the regulatory mechanisms between ER and autophagosomes and discovered the following: (i) motile autophagosome in ER tips drives the ER tubule to grow and slide; (ii) the ER reticulate tubule forms a three-way junction centered on the autophagosome; (iii) ER autophagy is a type of cell damage index during drug-induced apoptosis. Thus, this study advances our knowledge of organelle interaction regulatory mechanisms, shedding light on the identification of therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.