Organelle-specific zinc detection using zinpyr-labeled fusion proteins in live cells

A protein labeling approach is employed for the localization of a zinc-responsive fluorescent probe in the mitochondria and in the Golgi apparatus of living cells. ZP1, a zinc sensor of the Zinpyr family, was functionalized with a benzylguanine moiety and thus converted into a substrate (ZP1BG) for the human DNA repair enzyme alkylguaninetransferase (AGT or SNAP-Tag). The labeling reaction of purified glutathione S-transferase tagged AGT with ZP1BG and the zinc response of the resulting protein-bound sensor were confirmed in vitro. The new detection system, which combines a protein labeling methodology with a zinc fluorescent sensor, was tested in live HeLa cells expressing AGT in specific locations. The enzyme was genetically fused to site-directing proteins that anchor the probe onto targeted organelles. Localization of the zinc sensors in the Golgi apparatus and in the mitochondria was demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy. The protein-bound fluorescence detection system is zinc-responsive in living cells.     

6-methylpyridyl for pyridyl substitution tunes the properties of fluorescent zinc sensors of the Zinpyr family

To prepare fluorescent zinc sensors with binding affinities lower than that of the parent 9-(o-carboxyphenyl)-2,7-dichloro-4,5-bis(bis(2-pyridylmethyl)methylaminomethyl)-6-hydroxy-3-xanthenone (ZP1), dimethylated and tetramethylated derivatives were synthesized having either two or four of the pyridyl subunits methylated at the 6-position. Like the parent ZP1, both Me(2)ZP1 and Me(4)ZP1 exhibit increased fluorescence in the presence of Zn(2+). The integrated emission of Me(2)ZP1 increases 4-fold in the presence of excess zinc, whereas Me(4)ZP1 displays 2.5-fold enhanced fluorescence for Zn(2+). Methylating the 6-positions of the pyridyl rings raises the dissociation constant of the sensors and lowers the pK(a) values associated with the tertiary amine ligands in a systematic manner. The properties of the dimethylated Me(2)ZP1 dye resemble those of ZP1, but the tetramethylated Me(4)ZP1 differs greatly from ZP1 in terms of its brightness, affinity toward Zn(2+), exchange kinetics, and metal sensitivity. Both Me(2)ZP1 and Me(4)ZP1 can enter HeLa cells and signal the presence of Zn(2+). Staining caused by both dyes is punctate, with localization patterns resembling that observed for ZP1.     

Esterase-activated two-fluorophore system for ratiometric sensing of biological zinc(II)

Intracellular ester hydrolysis by cytosolic esterases is a common strategy used to trap fluorescent sensors within the cell. We have prepared analogues of Zinpyr-1 (ZP1), an intensity-based fluorescent sensor for Zn2+, that are linked via an amido-ester or diester moiety to a calibrating fluorophore, coumarin 343. These compounds, designated Coumazin-1 and -2, are nonpolar and are quenched by intramolecular interactions between the two fluorophores. Esterase-catalyzed hydrolysis generates a Zn2+-sensitive ZP1-like fluorophore and a Zn2+-insensitive coumarin as a calibrating fluorophore. Upon excitation of the fluorophores, coumarin 343 emission relays information concerning sensor concentration whereas ZP1 emission indicates the relative concentration of Zn2+-bound sensor. This approach enables intracellular monitoring of total sensor concentration and provides a ratiometric system for sensing biological zinc ion.     

Analogues of Zinpyr-1 provide insight into the mechanism of zinc sensing

Three compounds structurally related to the fluorescent zinc sensor Zinpyr-1 (ZP1) have been synthesized and characterized. In each of these ZinAlkylPyr (ZAP) analogues, an alkyl group (methyl, benzyl) replaces one of the metal-binding picolyl moieties in ZP1. The methyl-for-picolyl substitutions in ZAP1 and ZAP2 have a negligible effect on the optical spectrum of the fluorophore but elevate the quantum yields (Phi = 0.82 (ZAP1), 0.74 (ZAP2)) to values near that of Zn2+-saturated ZP1 (Phi = 0.92). The benzyl-for-picolyl substitution in ZAP3 similarly enhances the quantum yield (Phi = 0.52) relative to that of metal-free ZP1 (Phi = 0.38). As previously observed for methylated ZP1 sensors, methylation of the 6-position of the pyridyl ring diminishes the emission by lowering both the molar extinction coefficient and the quantum yield. Although these new ZAP compounds cannot detect Zn2+ fluorimetrically at neutral pH, complexation of Zn2+ does occur, as evidenced by sizable changes in the optical spectra. The ZAP1-3 probes can detect Zn2+ fluorimetrically at pH 9, indicating that proton-induced background emission obscures any Zn2+-induced fluorescence at pH 7. The tertiary amine groups in ZAP1-3 are less basic than those in ZP1, which implies that the additional pyridine rings are responsible for the emissive response to Zn2+ at pH 7.0.     

New strategy for quantifying biological zinc by a modified zinpyr fluorescence sensor

Substitution of one pyridine by pyrazine in each DPA appendage of ZP1 leads to a new zinc sensor, ZPP1, with a modified background fluorescence and zinc affinity. ZPP1 exhibits a two-step zinc response during fluorescence titrations, which leads to a new method for zinc quantification. The ability of ZPP1 to image and quantify zinc was demonstrated in pancreatic Min6 cells.     

ZP4, an improved neuronal Zn2+ sensor of the Zinpyr family

A second-generation fluorescent sensor for Zn(2+) from the Zinpyr family, ZP4, has been synthesized and characterized. ZP4 (Zinpyr-4, 9-(o-carboxyphenyl)-2-chloro-5-[2-(bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl)-N-methylaniline]-6-hydroxy-3-xanthanone) is prepared via a convergent synthetic strategy developed from previous studies with these compounds. ZP4, like its predecessors, has excitation and emission wavelengths in the visible range ( approximately 500 nm), a dissociation constant (K(d)) for Zn(2+) of less than 1 nM and a high quantum yields (Phi = approximately 0.4), making it well suited for biological applications. A 5-fold fluorescent enhancement is observed under simulated physiological conditions corresponding to the binding of the Zn(2+) cation to the sensor, which inhibits a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) quenching pathway. The metal-binding stereochemistry of ZP4 was evaluated through the synthesis and X-ray structural characterization of [M(BPAMP)(H(2)O)(n)](+) complexes, where BPAMP is [2-(bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl)-N-methylaniline]-phenol and M = Mn(2+), Zn(2+) (n = 1) or Cu(2+) (n = 0).     

Reactivity of molecular oxygen with ethoxycarbonyl derivatives of tetrathiatriarylmethyl radicals

Tetrathiatriarylmethyl (TAM) radicals are commonly used as oximetry probes for electron paramagnetic resonance imaging applications. In this study, the electronic properties and the thermodynamic preferences for O2 addition to various TAM-type triarylmethyl (trityl) radicals were theoretically investigated. The radicals' stability in the presence of O2 and biological milieu was also experimentally assessed using EPR spectroscopy. Results show that H substitution on the aromatic ring affects the trityl radical's stability (tricarboxylate salt 1-CO2Na > triester 1-CO2Et > diester 2-CO2Et > monoester 3-CO2Et) and may lead to substitution reactions in cellular systems. We propose that this degradation process involves an arylperoxyl radical that can further decompose to alcohol or quinone products. This study demonstrates how computational chemistry can be used as a tool to rationalize radical stability in the redox environment of biological systems and aid in the future design of more biostable trityl radicals.     

Midrange affinity fluorescent Zn(II) sensors of the Zinpyr family: syntheses, characterization, and biological imaging applications

The syntheses and photophysical characterization of ZP9, 2-{2-chloro-6-hydroxy-3-oxo-5-[(2-{[pyridin-2-ylmethyl-(1H-pyrrol-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}phenylamino)methyl]-3H-xanthen-9-yl}benzoic acid, and ZP10, 2-{2-chloro-6-hydroxy-5-[(2-{[(1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-ylmethyl)pyridin-2-ylmethylamino]methyl}phenylamino)methyl]-3-oxo-3H-xanthen-9-yl}benzoic acid, two asymmetrically derivatized fluorescein-based dyes, are described. These sensors each contain an aniline-based ligand moiety functionalized with a pyridyl-amine-pyrrole group and have dissociation constants for Zn(II) in the sub-micromolar (ZP9) and low-micromolar (ZP10) range, which we define as "midrange". They give approximately 12- (ZP9) and approximately 7-fold (ZP10) fluorescence turn-on immediately following Zn(II) addition at neutral pH and exhibit improved selectivity for Zn(II) compared to the di-(2-picolyl)amine-based Zinpyr (ZP) sensors. Confocal microscopy studies indicate that such asymmetrical fluorescein-based probes are cell permeable and Zn(II) responsive in vivo.     

Synthetic analogues of the active site of the A-cluster of acetyl coenzyme A synthase/CO dehydrogenase: syntheses, structures, and reactions with CO

Two metallosynthons, namely (Et4N)2[Ni(NpPepS)] (1) and (Et4N)2[Ni(PhPepS)] (2) containing carboxamido-N and thiolato-S as donors have been used to model the bimetallic M(p)-Ni(d) subsite of the A-cluster of the enzyme acetyl coenzyme A synthase/CO dehydrogenase. A series of sulfur-bridged Ni/Cu dinuclear and trinuclear complexes (3-10) have been synthesized to explore their redox properties and affinity of the metal centers toward CO. The structures of (Et4N)2[Ni(PhPepS)] (2), (Et4N)[Cu(neo)Ni(NpPepS)] x 0.5 Et2O x 0.5 H2O (3 x 0.5 Et2O x 0.5 H2O), (Et4N)[Cu(neo)Ni(PhPepS)] x H2O (4 x H2O), (Et4N)2[Ni{Ni(NpPepS)}2] x DMF (5 x DMF), (Et4N)2[Ni(DMF)2{Ni(NpPepS)}2] x 3 DMF (6 x 3 DMF), (Et4N)2[Ni(DMF)2{Ni(PhPepS)}2] (8), and [Ni(dppe)Ni(PhPepS)] x CH2Cl2 (10 x CH2Cl2) have been determined by crystallography. The Ni(d) mimics 1 and 2 resist reduction and exhibit no affinity toward CO. In contrast, the sulfur-bridged Ni center (designated Ni(C)) in the trinuclear models 5-8 are amenable to reduction and binds CO in the Ni(I) state. Also, the sulfur-bridged Ni(C) center can be removed from the trimers (5-8) by treatment with 1,10-phenanthroline much like the "labile Ni" from the enzyme. The dinuclear Ni-Ni models 9 and 10 resemble the Ni(p)-Ni(d) subsite of the A-cluster more closely, and only the modeled Ni(p) site of the dimers can be reduced. The Ni(I)-Ni(II) species display EPR spectra typical of a Ni(I) center in distorted trigonal bipyramidal and distorted tetrahedral geometries for 9(red) and 10(red), respectively. Both species bind CO, and the CO-adducts 9(red)-CO and 10(red)-CO display strong nu(co) at 2044 and 1997 cm(-1), respectively. The reduction of 10 is reversible. The CO-affinity of 10 in the reduced state and the nu(co) value of 10(red)-CO closely resemble the CO-bound reduced A-cluster (nu(co) = 1996 cm(-1)).     

1-乙酰基-3-(2-羟基-4,6-二甲氧基苯基)-5-苯基-2-吡唑啉的合成及锌离子探针的研究

设计合成了1-乙酰基-3-(2-羟基-4,6-二甲氧基苯基)-5-苯基-2-吡唑啉(4), 测试了其紫外光谱和荧光光谱, 研究了其对锌离子的选择性识别作用. 结果表明, 化合物4作为锌离子荧光探针, 受常见离子的干扰较小, 对于锌离子有着较高的选择性和较低的检出限.     

Bright fluorescent chemosensor platforms for imaging endogenous pools of neuronal zinc

A series of new fluorescent Zinpyr (ZP) chemosensors based on the fluorescein platform have been prepared and evaluated for imaging neuronal Zn(2+). A systematic synthetic survey of electronegative substitution patterns on a homologous ZP scaffold provides a basis for tuning the fluorescence responses of "off-on" photoinduced electron transfer (PET) probes by controlling fluorophore pK(a) values and attendant proton-induced interfering fluorescence of the metal-free (apo) probes at physiological pH. We further establish the value of these improved optical tools for interrogating the metalloneurochemistry of Zn(2+); the novel ZP3 fluorophore images endogenous stores of Zn(2+) in live hippocampal neurons and slices, including the first fluorescence detection of Zn(2+) in isolated dentate gyrus cultures. Our findings reveal that careful control of fluorophore pK(a) can minimize proton-induced fluorescence of the apo probes and that electronegative substitution offers a general strategy for tuning PET chemosensors for cellular studies. In addition to providing improved optical tools for Zn(2+) in the neurosciences, these results afford a rational starting point for creating superior fluorescent probes for biological applications.     

Zinc ion-tetraphenylporphyrin interactions in the ground and excited states

In the present article, tetraphenylporphyrin a new ratiometric fluorescence sensitizer for zinc ion has been proposed. Electronic absorption, emission and (1)H NMR spectral characteristics of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) have been studied in acetonitrile medium in the presence of zinc perchlorate. Absorption spectral studies indicate the formation of a new complex between zinc ion and the porphyrin moiety in the ground state as distinguished from the characteristics of metalo(zinc) porphyrin compound. The energy of maximum fluorescence of porphyrin shifts towards blue with the addition of Zn(ClO(4))(2). Steady state emission studies point to the existence of two emitting species viz, the solvated and the complexed porphyrin in equilibrium. The fluorescence emission of tetraphenylporphyrin at 651-nm bands decreases while that at 605 nm increases upon zinc ion interaction in acetonitrile. Thus, the TPP can behave as a ratiometric fluorescent sensor. This fluorescence modulation of TPP should be applicable to dual-wavelength measurement of various biomolecules or enzyme activities. (1)H NMR spectra of the porphyrin suffered a radical change with the addition of zinc perchlorate which points to the formation of a new porphyrin complex. This change is due to the difference in the electron-donating ability of the pyrrolic nitrogens before and after complexation with Zn(2+). The values of equilibrium constant for the binding process have been determined in acetone and acetonitrile, in both ground and excited states.     

A copper(II) ion-selective on-off-type fluoroionophore based on zinc porphyrin-dipyridylamino

A new copper(II) fluorescent sensor 5,10,15,20-tetra((p-N,N-bis(2-pyridyl)amino)phenyl)porphyrin zinc (1) has been designed and synthesized by the Ullmann-type condensation of bromoporphyrin zinc with 2,2'-dipyridylamine (dpa) under copper powder as a catalyst as well as with K2CO3 as the base in a DMF solution. It consists of two separately functional moieties: the zinc porphyrin performs as a fluorophore, and the dpa-linked-to-zinc porphyrin acts as a selected binding site for metal ions. It displays a high selectivity and antidisturbance for the Cu2+ ion among the metal ions examined (Na+, Mg2+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Ag+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, and Fe3+) and exhibits fluorescence quenching upon the binding of the Cu2+ ion with an "on-off"-type fluoroionophoric switching property. The detection limit is found to be 3.3 x 10(-7) M (3s blank) for Cu2+ ion in methanol solution, and its fluorescence can be revived by the addition of EDTA disodium solution. The design strategy and remarkable photophysical properties of sensor 1 help to extend the development of fluorescent sensors for metal ions.     

Design and Synthesis of a Highly Sensitive Off–On Fluorescent Chemosensor for Zinc Ions Utilizing Internal Charge Transfer

Fluorescence imaging is a powerful tool for the visualization of biological molecules in living cells, tissue slices, and whole bodies, and is important for elucidating biological phenomena. Furthermore, zinc (Zn²⁺) is the second most abundant heavy metal ion in the human body after iron, and detection of chelatable Zn²⁺ in biological studies has attracted much attention. Herein, we present a novel, highly sensitive off–on fluorescent chemosensor for Zn²⁺ by using the internal charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. The rationale of our approach to highly sensitive sensor molecules is as follows. If fluorescence can be completely quenched in the absence of Zn²⁺, chemosensors would offer a better signal‐to‐noise ratio. However, it is difficult to quench the fluorescence completely before Zn²⁺ binding, and most sensor molecules still show very weak fluorescence in the absence of Zn²⁺. But even though the sensor shows a weak fluorescence in the absence of Zn²⁺, this fluorescence can be further suppressed by selecting an excitation wavelength that is barely absorbed by the Zn²⁺‐free sensor molecule. Focusing on careful control of ICT within the 4‐amino‐1,8‐naphthalimide dye platform, we designed and synthesized a new chemosensor ( 1 ) that shows a pronounced fluorescence enhancement with a blueshift in the absorption spectrum upon addition of Zn²⁺. The usefulness of 1 for monitoring Zn²⁺ changes was confirmed in living HeLa cells. There have been several reports on 4‐amino‐1,8‐naphthalimide‐based fluorescent sensor molecules. However, 1 is the first Zn²⁺‐sensitive off–on fluorescent sensor molecule that employs the ICT mechanism; most off–on sensor molecules for Zn²⁺ employ the photoinduced electron transfer (PeT) mechanism.     

Tetrakis(2-quinolinylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TQEN) as a new fluorescent sensor for zinc

A new fluorescent sensor for zinc that binds 1 equivalent of zinc ion, N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-quinolylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TQEN), has been prepared and characterized. Zinc-bound TQEN exhibits fluorescence around 383 nm upon excitation at 317 nm, while free TQEN emits very weak fluorescence. UV-Vis and 1H NMR spectral changes also detected the binding of TQEN with zinc ion. The crystal structure of zinc complex with TQEN was determined by X-ray crystallography and compared with that of the TPEN-Zn complex (TPEN =N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine). The binding affinity of TQEN with zinc ion is very high (Kd < 1 microM in aqueous dmf solution). Competition experiments reveal that the zinc-binding affinity of TQEN is lower than the parent, strong metal ion chelator TPEN, and comparable to EGTA (EGTA = ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminomethyl)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid).     

Protonation and reactivity towards carbon dioxide of the mononuclear tetrahedral zinc and cobalt hydroxide complexes, [Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]ZnOH and [Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]CoOH: comparison of the reactivity of the metal hydroxide function in synthetic analogues of carbonic anhydrase

The tris(3-tert-butyl-5-methylpyrazolyl)hydroborato zinc hydroxide complex [Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]ZnOH is protonated by (C(6)F(5))(3)B(OH(2)) to yield the aqua derivative [[Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]Zn(OH(2))][HOB(C(6)F(5))(3)], which has been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction, thereby demonstrating that protonation results in a lengthening of the Zn-O bond by ca. 0.1 A. The protonation is reversible, and treatment of [[Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]Zn(OH(2))](+) with Et(3)N regenerates [Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]ZnOH. Consistent with the notion that the catalytic hydration of CO(2) by carbonic anhydrase requires deprotonation of the coordinated water molecule, [[Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]Zn(OH(2))](+) is inert towards CO(2), whereas [Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]ZnOH is in rapid equilibrium with the bicarbonate complex [Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]ZnOC(O)OH under comparable conditions. The cobalt hydroxide complex [Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]CoOH is likewise protonated by (C(6)F(5))(3)B(OH(2)) to yield the aqua derivative [[Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]Co(OH(2))][HOB(C(6)F(5))(3)], which is isostructural with the zinc complex. The aqua complexes [[Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]M(OH(2))][HOB(C(6)F(5))(3)] (M = Zn, Co) exhibit a hydrogen bonding interaction between the metal aqua and boron hydroxide moieties. This hydrogen bonding interaction may be viewed as analogous to that between the aqua ligand and Thr-199 at the active site of carbonic anhydrase. In addition to the structural similarities between the zinc and cobalt complexes, [Tp(Bu)t(,Me)ZnOH] and [Tp(Bu)()t(,Me)]CoOH, and between [[Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]Zn(OH(2))](+) and [[Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]Co(OH(2))](+), DFT (B3LYP) calculations demonstrate that the pK(a) value of [[Tp]Zn(OH(2))](+) is similar to that of [[Tp]Co(OH(2))](+). These similarities are in accord with the observation that Co(II) is a successful substitute for Zn(II) in carbonic anhydrase. The cobalt hydroxide [Tp(Bu)()t(,Me)]CoOH reacts with CO(2) to give the bridging carbonate complex [[Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]Co](2)(mu-eta(1),eta(2)-CO(3)). The coordination mode of the carbonate ligand in this complex, which is bidentate to one cobalt center and unidentate to the other, is in contrast to that in the zinc counterpart [[Tp(Bu)t(,Me)]Zn](2)(mu-eta(1),eta(1)-CO(3)), which bridges in a unidentate manner to both zinc centers. This difference in coordination modes concurs with the suggestion that a possible reason for the lower activity of Co(II)-carbonic anhydrase is associated with enhanced bidentate coordination of bicarbonate inhibiting its displacement.     

Triazole-linked-thiophene conjugate of calix[4]arene: its selective recognition of Zn2+ and as biomimetic model in supporting the events of the metal detoxification and oxidative stress involving metallothionein

Supramolecular calix[4]arene conjugate (L) has been developed as a sensitive and selective sensor for Zn(2+) in HEPES buffer among the 12 metal ion by using fluorescence, absorption and ESI MS and also by visual fluorescent color. The structural, electronic, and emission properties of the calix[4]arene conjugates L and its zinc complex, [ZnL], have been demonstrated using ab initio density functional theory (DFT) combined with time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. The TDDFT calculations reveal the switch on fluorescence behavior of L is mainly due to the utilization of the lone pair of electrons on imine moiety by the Zn(2+). The resultant fluorescent complex, [ZnL], has been used as a secondary sensing chemo-ensemble for the detection of -SH containing molecules by removing Zn(2+) from [ZnL] and forming {Cys/DTT·Zn} adducts as equivalent to those present in metallothioneins. The displacement followed by the release of the coordinated zinc from its Cys/DTT complex by heavy metal ion (viz. Cd(2+) and Hg(2+)), as in the metal detoxification process or by ROS (such as H(2)O(2)) as in the oxidative stress, has been well demonstrated using the conjugate L through the fluorescence intensity retrieval wherein the fluorescence intensity is the same as that observed with [ZnL], which in turn mimics the zinc sensing element (MTF) in biology.     

Computational prediction and experimental evaluation of a photoinduced electron-transfer sensor

An approach is presented for the design of photoinduced electron-transfer-based sensors. The approach relies on the computational and theoretical prediction of electron-transfer kinetics based on Rehm-Weller and Marcus theories. The approach allows evaluation of the photophysical behavior of a prototype fluorescent probe/sensor prior to the synthesis of the molecule. As a proof of concept, a prototype sensor for divalent metal ions is evaluated computationally, synthesized, and then analyzed spectroscopically for its fluorescence response to zinc. Calculations predicted that the system would show a competition between electron transfer and fluorescence in the free state. In the zinc-bound state, the compound was predicted to be more highly fluorescent, due to the inhibition of electron transfer. Both predictions were confirmed experimentally. A nonzero fluorescence signal was observed in the absence of zinc and an enhancement was observed in the presence of zinc. Specifically, a 56-fold enhancement was observed over a 10-fold increase in zinc concentration.     

A 1D Schiff base zinc polymer as a versatile metallo-ligand for the synthesis of polynuclear zinc cages

The 1D polymeric Schiff base zinc complex, [LZn(2)Et(2)](n), where LH(2) = (NN'-ethylene-bis(4-iminopentan-2-one)) has been demonstrated as a useful synthetic metallo building block for the synthesis of homo and heteronuclear zinc cages. The reaction of [LZn(2)Et(2)](n) with CdI(2) afforded the hetero-nuclear cage, 1, [L(2)Zn(4)(Et)(2)CdI(4)], while reaction with HgI(2) afforded a hexanuclear zinc cage, [L(2)Zn(6)(Et)(4)(μ(4)O)(μ(3)OEt)I], 2. The versatility of [LZn(2)Et(2)](n) as a metallo building block is demonstrated through the reaction with ferrocenyl carboxylic acid, affording the ferrocenyl supported zinc cage, [L(2)Zn(8)(FcCO(2))(4)(Et)(2)(OEt)(2)(μ(4)O)(2)], 3, while the reaction with Er(III) acetate afforded the decanuclear zinc cage, [L(3)Zn(10)(μ(4)O)(4)(Et)(6)], 4.