Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42208463›Full record

ArticleBioorganic chemistry2026

Solvatochromic diacylglycerol-mimetic probes reveal distinct trafficking of DAG-like lipids to lipid droplets.

Christopher Gomez, Nicholas McInchak, Sarah Louis, Evan Heck, Haylee Mesa, Jonathan Meade, Qi Zhang, Maciej J Stawikowski

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Bioorganic chemistry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Christopher GomezDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.
Nicholas McInchakDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.
Sarah LouisDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.
Evan HeckDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Dr., Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
Haylee MesaDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Dr., Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
Jonathan MeadeDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Dr., Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
Qi ZhangDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Dr., Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
Maciej J StawikowskiDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA. Electronic address: mstawikowski@fau.edu.

Funding

Investigating intracellular cholesterol distribution and trafficking using novel environment-sensitive cholesterol probesR15GM147912 · NIGMS · FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY · PI Maciej J. Stawikowski, Qi Zhang · 2022 to 2022
$436k
NIA NIH HHS R15 AG085620NIGMS NIH HHS R15 GM147912
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Diacylglycerols (DAGs) are central intermediates in lipid metabolism and signaling, yet their trafficking within cellular membranes and lipid droplets remains difficult to visualize because DAGs are rapidly metabolized and chemically unstable as imaging probes. Here we report the design and characterization of a family of solvatochromic fluorescent lipid mimetics, termed DONDI, developed to mimic DAG while reporting on local membrane environments. These probes are based on a 1,8-naphthalimide fluorophore conjugated to modified aminoglycerol lipid backbones bearing oleoyl chains that mimic native glycerolipids. Biophysical characterization together with atomistic molecular dynamics simulations reveal probe-dependent membrane partitioning and hydrogen-bonding interactions that govern lipid-mimetic behavior and solvatochromic responses. Live-cell imaging demonstrates efficient cellular uptake and selective accumulation of DONDI probes within lipid droplets. Structure-function analysis identifies DONDI-5 as the closest structural and biophysical mimic of 1,2-diacylglycerol, characterized by rapid membrane uptake, strong lipid droplet enrichment, and prolonged intracellular retention without detectable redistribution to other cellular membranes. These properties enable sustained visualization of DAG-like lipid pools and reveal trafficking of DAG-like species to lipid droplets without prior conversion to triacylglycerols. Collectively, this work establishes a bioorganic strategy for constructing solvatochromic DAG-mimetic lipid probes and provides experimental insight into the distinct intracellular behavior of DAG relative to triacylglycerols.

Indexed as

DiglyceridesFluorescent DyesLipid DropletsFluorescent Chemosensor CompoundsHumansMolecular Dynamics SimulationMolecular StructureNaphthalimidesStructure-Activity Relationship1,2-diacylglycerolDiglyceridesFluorescent Chemosensor CompoundsFluorescent DyesNaphthalimidesDiacylglycerol mimeticsFluorescent lipid probesLipid dropletsMembrane interactionsSolvatochromic fluorescence

Identifiers

PMID42208463
PMCPMC13366544

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.