Visualization of mitochondrial DNA in living cells with super-resolution microscopy using thiophene-based terpyridine Zn(ii) complexes.

We present a thiophene-based terpyridine Zn(ii) complex (namely LC) which could specifically target live cell mitochondria via binding with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Due to its high biocompatibility, red emission and photo-stability, mtDNA distribution within mitochondrial cristae and inner matrix in living cells was successfully visualized using stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy with unprecedented resolution.