Lighting Up Cell Death: A New Way to Track Drug Effects

Scientists have created a new tool to watch how drugs cause cells to die. This tool uses a special kind of light called bioluminescence. Unlike other methods, it doesn't need any outside light to work. This makes it better for looking at living things. The tool is designed to target a specific molecule called acetylcholinesterase, or AChE for short. This molecule is a good sign of when cells are dying. The new tool is made by adding special parts to a natural light-emitting substance called luciferin. Out of three versions made, the best one was AhBL-3. It can detect very small amounts of AChE. It can even see when just 152 cells are dying. This tool was tested on tumor tissues where a drug called cisplatin was causing cell death. It worked well and didn't harm the cells. This is the first time a tool like this has been made. It could be very useful for studying how drugs work in living things. It might help in making new medicines and understanding how they affect our bodies.