Organelle-Specific pH Quantification Using a Protein-Based Quantum Sensor

Abstract

Quantum sensing enables measurements of physicochemical changes within living cells at the organelle level. Conventional nanoparticle-based sensors, however, face limitations in subcellular targeting, intracellular tracking, and following dynamic biological processes across distinct intracellular environments. Here, we investigate MagLOV2, a genetically encoded quantum sensor, by examining its organelle-specific localization, magnetic field effects (MFEs) during mitophagy, and pH dependent response kinetics. MagLOV2 retained magnetic responsiveness in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and mitochondria, with fluorescence contrasts of 17.1%, 12.3%, and 28.0%, respectively. Optimization of mitochondrial targeting increased fluorescence 2.7 fold. During CCCP induced mitophagy, lysosomal colocalization of MagLOV2 increased from 20.75% to 89.73%, accompanied by slower MFE responses in acidic compartments. Purified MagLOV2 showed response times ranging from 8.27 s at pH 4.5 to 1.56 s at pH 9.5. Structural, spectral, and kinetic analyses suggested that protonation dependent flavin photochemistry and the surrounding protein environment contribute to this behavior. These measurements demonstrate that genetically targeted MagLOV2 can follow organelle transport and report local acidification through changes in magnetic-response kinetics.