Cell-Surface-Anchored Ratiometric DNA Tweezer for Real-Time Monitoring of Extracellular and Apoplastic pH

Precise and dynamic imaging of extracellular pH is one crucial yet challenging task for studying cell physiological and pathological processes. Here, we construct a DNA tweezer to dynamically monitor pH changes of cellular microenvironments. The DNA tweezer contains three key elements: a three-strand ssDNA-frame labeled with cholesterol to anchor it on the cell membrane, a pH-sensitive i-motif sequence in the middle to dynamically control the switch between the "open" and "closed" states of the DNA tweezer, and a pair of FRET fluorophores (rhodamine green and rhodamine red) on the two arms of the tweezer to reflect its state. With cholesterol, a natural component of cell membranes, as an anchoring element, the sensor exhibited high cell-membrane-insertion efficiency and low cytotoxicity. Using the i-motif as a sensing element, it can quickly and reversibly respond to extracellular pH in the pH range of 5.0-7.5 and further perform real-time imaging of cell-surface-pH changes with excellent spatial and temporal resolution. Moreover, apoplastic-pH change during the alkalization process of plant roots caused by rapid-alkalinization factor (RALF1) was directly detected by the sensor, demonstrating the potential applications of the sensor in cell biology, biomedical research, and plant-tissue engineering.