Noble　metal　nanoclusters　(ex　320　nm,　λem　405　nm)　and　the　other　with　red　fluorescence　emission　(λex　560　nm,　λem　657　nm),　using　the　same　polypeptide　SV　(sequence:　NH2-CCYGGPKKKRKVG-COOH)　as　a　template.　The　synthesis　of　these　two　optically　distinct　Au　nanoclusters　(Au　NCs)　was　achieved　through　the　optimization　of　synthesis　conditions,　including　light,　pH,　the　Au:　polypeptide　ratio,　reaction　time,　and　temperature.　The　multimodal　imaging　ability　of　the　Au　NCs　were　subsequently　explored,　with　particular　emphasis　on　the　enzyme-like　catalysis　of　the　NCs　and　their　use　in　the　optical　imaging　of　cell　nuclei.　Results　show　that　the　Au　NCs　possessed　similar　biological　activities　as　the　parent　peptide　used　in　their　synthesis　as　well　as　demonstrating　peroxidase-like　activity　due　to　the　Au　nanocluster　core.　Further,　the　Au　NCs　targeted　the　cell　nucleus,　with　their　strong　fluorescence　allowing　cell　imaging　(cells　containing　Au　clusters　could　be　distinguished　by　eye,　eliminating　the　need　for　additional　labels).　Finally,　the　Au　NCs　exhibited　excellent　multimodal　cell　imaging　abilities.　The　results　suggest　that　the　Au　NCs　introduced　here　are　promising　candidates　for　the　labeling　and　analysis　of　pathological　samples.　Copyright　©　2020　American　Chemical　Society.