Fig. 3: Halogen atom-doped GQDs disassemble preformed TDP-43 granules and prevent their formation in the nucleus and cytoplasm.

a, b Schematic diagram of the TDP-43 granules inhibition and disassembly assay. Created with BioRender.com c Representative confocal images of HeLa cells transfected with TDP-43 HA. Cells were treated with 0.1 μg/μl of GQDs for 1 h, followed by 250 μM arsenite for 1 h. Scale bar, 10 μm. d Representative confocal images of HeLa cells transfected with TDP-43 HA. Cells were treated with 250 μM sodium arsenite for 1 h, followed by 0.1 μg/μl of GQDs for 1 h. Scale bar, 10 μm. e, f Quantitative analysis of the number of NBs in nucleus per cell for images (c, d). Data shown are means ± SD, n = 15, two-tailed unpaired t-test. g Representative confocal images of HeLa cells transfected with TDP-43 HA. Cells were treated with 0.1 μg/μl of GQDs for 1 h, followed by 300 mM NaCl for 1 h. Scale bar, 10 μm. h Representative confocal images of HeLa cells transfected with TDP-43 HA. Cells were treated with 300 mM NaCl for 1 h, followed by 0.1 μg/μl of GQDs for 1 h. Scale bar, 10 μm. i, j Quantitative analysis of the number of NBs in nucleus per cell for image (g, h). Data shown are means ± SD, n = 15, two-tailed unpaired t-test. k Representative confocal images of HeLa cells transfected with TDP-43 D169G HA. Cells were treated with 0.1 μg/μl of GQDs for 1 h and then treated with 250 μM arsenite for 1 h. Scale bar, 10 μm. l Representative confocal images of HeLa cells transfected with TDP-43 D169G HA. Cells were treated with 250 μM sodium arsenite for 1 h and then treated with 0.1 μg/μl of GQDs for 1 h. Scale bar, 10 μm. m, n Quantitative analysis of the number of SGs in cytoplasm per cell for image (k, l). Data shown are means ± SD, n = 15, two-tailed unpaired t-test. The imaging for (c, d, g, h, k, l) was independently repeated 3 times with similar observations. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.