Live-cell imaging of biothiols via thiol/disulfide exchange to trigger the photoinduced electron transfer of gold-nanodot sensor

Biothiols have been reported to involve in intracellular redox-homeostasis against oxidative stress. In this study, a highly selective and sensitive fluorescent probe for sensing biothiols is explored by using an ultrasmall gold nanodot (AuND), the dendrimer-entrapped Au₈-cluster. This strategy relies upon a thiol/disulfide exchange to trigger the fluorescence change through a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process between the Au₈-cluster (as an electron donor) and 2-pyridinethiol (2-PyT) (as an electron acceptor) for sensing biothiols. When 2-PyT is released via the cleavage of disulfide bonds by biothiols, the PET process from the Au₈-cluster to 2-PyT is initiated, resulting in fluorescence quenching. The fluorescence intensity was found to decrease linearly with glutathione (GSH) concentration (0–1500 μM) at physiological relevant levels and the limit of detection for GSH was 15.4 μM. Compared to most nanoparticle-based fluorescent probes that are limited to detect low molecular weight thiols (LMWTs; i.e., GSH and cysteine), the ultrasmall Au₈-cluster-based probe exhibited less steric hindrance and can be directly applied in selectively and sensitively detecting both LMWTs and high molecular weight thiols (HMWTs; i.e., protein thiols). Based on such sensing platform, the surface-functionalized Au₈-cluster has significant promise for use as an efficient nanoprobe for intracellular fluorescence imaging of biothiols including protein thiols in living cells whereas other nanoparticle-based fluorescent probes cannot.     

Bifunctional Fluorescent Probe for Sequential Sensing of Thiols and Primary Aliphatic Amines in Distinct Fluorescence Channels

Thiols and primary aliphatic amines (PAA) are ubiquitous and extremely important species in biological systems. They perform significant interplaying roles in complex biological events. A single fluorescent probe differentiating both thiols and PAA can contribute to understanding the intrinsic inter‐relationship of thiols and PAA in biological processes. Herein, we rationally constructed the first fluorescent probe that can respond to thiols and PAA in different fluorescence channels. The probe exhibited a high selectivity and sensitivity to thiols and PAA. In addition, it displayed sequential sensing ability when the thiols and PAA coexisted. The application experiments indicated that the probe can be used for sensing thiols and PAA in human blood serum. Moreover, the fluorescence imaging of endogenous thiols and PAA as well as antihypertensive drugs captopril and amlodipine in living cells were successfully conducted.     

A special o-dialdehyde fluorescent probe simultaneously sensing Hcy,GSH and its application in living cells and zebrafish imaging

The development of fluorescent probes enabling to distinguish Cys, Hcy and GSH has always been a considerable challenge, in particular the distinction of Hcy and other two biothiols, because Hcy has a very similar structure with Cys and a relatively lower concentration in living organisms. In this work, a special o-dialdehyde fluorescent probe, quinoline-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (QDA), has been synthesized and demonstrated superior performance in differentiating detection of Hcy and GSH, which is different from the previous reported o-dialdehyde probes specifically detecting GSH. Furthermore, the probe can selectively distinguish Hcy and GSH from different signal channels in living cells and zebrafish, meaning it has great potential in biological applications. This finding will provide a novel idea for the design of fluorescent probes to distinguish biothiols.     

Design of OFF/ON fluorescent thiol probes based on coumarin fluorophore

This paper presents a series of first-and second-generation click-modified coumarin-based fluorescent probes for thiols.These molecules demonstrate high turn-on fluorescent response and good selectivity towards aromatic thiols over other relevant reactive sulfur species,reactive oxygen species and common nucleophiles.Moreover,probe 1a can detect thiols in the reduced rabbit plasma sample.Therefore,this approach provides a particularly impressive tool for detecting thiol in biological systems.     

Construction of a Selective Fluorescent Probe for GSH Based on a Chloro‐Functionalized Coumarin‐enone Dye Platform

Glutathione (GSH), the most abundant intracellular biothiol, protects cellular components from damage caused by free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and plays a crucial role in human pathologies. A fluorescent probe that can selectively sense intracellular GSH would be very valuable for understanding of its biological functions and mechanisms of diseases. In this work, a 3,4‐dimethoxythiophenol‐substituted coumarin‐enone was exploited as a reaction‐type fluorescent probe for GSH based on a chloro‐functionalized coumarin‐enone platform. In the probe, the 3,4‐dimethoxythiophenol group functions not only as a fluorescence quencher through photoinduced electron transfer (PET) to ensure a low background fluorescence, but also as a reactive site for biothiols. The probe displays a dramatic fluorescence turn‐on response toward GSH with the long‐wavelength emission (600 nm) and significant Stokes shift (100 nm). The selectivity of the probe toward GSH over cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and other amino acids was demonstrated. Assisted by laser‐scanning confocal microscopy, we have demonstrated that the probe could specifically sense GSH over Cys/Hcy in human renal cell carcinoma SiHa cells.     

硫醇类荧光探针研究进展

硫醇是生物体中许多蛋白质和小分子的重要组成部分,在细胞的抗氧化系统中具有重要的作用,定量检测硫醇在生物化学和临床化学中具有重要的意义.荧光法由于其具有灵敏度高、能够实现对活体甚至单个细胞的实时可视化示踪的优点,成为目前广泛采用检测细胞内硫醇类物质的一种重要手段.本文引用文献51篇,按荧光探针与巯基作用机理的不同分类,就近年来该领域的研究进展做了比较系统的评述,并展望了此类探针的发展趋势和应用前景.     

Sensitive Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probes for Thiols Based on Se?N Bond Cleavage: Imaging in Living Cells and Tissues

Cy-NiSe and Cy-TfSe were designed and synthesized as sensitive near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes for detecting thiols on the basis of Se N bond cleavage both in cells and in tissues. Since a donor-excited photoinduced electron transfer (d-PET) process occurs between the modulator and the fluorophore, Cy-NiSe and Cy-TfSe have weak fluorescence. On titration with glutathione, the free dye exhibits significant fluorescence enhancement. The two probes are sensitive and selective for thiols over other relevant biological species. They can function rapidly at pH 7.4, and their emission lies in the NIR region. Confocal imaging confirms that Cy-NiSe and Cy-TfSe can be used for detecting thiols in living cells and tissues.     

A Sensitive and Selective Fluorescent Probe for Cysteine Based on a New Response‐Assisted Electrostatic Attraction Strategy: The Role of Spatial Charge Configuration

A new strategy for fast fluorescent detection of cysteine (Cys), based on a response‐assisted electrostatic attraction, is demonstrated. By utilizing this strategy, we designed and synthesized three fluorescent probes for the specific detection of Cys under actual physiological conditions. The probe m‐ CP , a coumarin fluorophore conjugated with a substituted methyl pyridinium group through an unsaturated ketone unit, showed highly selective and sensitive detection for cysteine (Cys) over homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH). The kinetic analysis indicated that the sensing process was highly accelerated (a response time less than 1 min) by the response‐assisted electrostatic attraction. More importantly, control experiments with isomeric probes first demonstrated that the spatial charge configuration of the probe played an important role in Cys‐preferred selectivity and kinetic rate acceleration. Furthermore, the practical utility of the probe m‐ CP in the fluorescent labeling of Cys residues within proteins was demonstrated. Finally, these probes were employed in living cell imaging with HeLa cells, in which it displayed satisfactory cell permeability and enabled us to distinguish active thiols in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and mitochondria.     

A Multi‐signal Fluorescent Probe with Multiple Binding Sites for Simultaneous Sensing of Cysteine,Homocysteine, and Glutathione

A novel fluorescent probe was developed by integrating chlorinated coumarin and benzothiazolylacetonitrile and exploited for simultaneous detection of cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and glutathione (GSH). Featuring four binding sites and different reaction mechanisms for different biothiols, this probe exhibited rapid fluorescence turn‐on for distinguishing Cys, Hcy, and GSH with 108‐, 128‐, 30‐fold fluorescence increases at 457, 559, 529 nm, respectively, across different excitation wavelengths. Furthermore, the probe was successfully applied to the fluorescence imaging of endogenous Cys and GSH and exogenous Cys, Hcy, and GSH in living cells.     

生物硫醇荧光探针的研究进展

生物硫醇(包含半胱氨酸、高半胱氨酸和谷胱甘肽)在生命活动中扮演了重要的角色,其浓度的异常变化与某些疾病息息相关,因此对硫醇的检测具有重要意义.荧光探针因具有灵敏度高、时空分辨率好、无损伤、可视化等优势,在生物硫醇的检测方面得到了高度重视.利用硫醇在分子结构上的共同点(含巯基的氨基酸)和差异(分子大小、亲核性、空间位阻、细胞内含量),可通过迈克尔加成、亲核芳基取代、加成环化等反应实现对硫醇的选择性检测.综述了近3年来硫醇荧光探针领域的研究进展.首先介绍了对硫醇有选择性识别的荧光探针,随后分类讨论了对半胱氨酸、高半胱氨酸和谷胱甘肽各具有特异性检测的荧光探针,并重点介绍了分子设计、识别机理、荧光性质和成像应用,初步探讨了部分探针在监测细胞生命活动中的作用,同时还对本领域的发展提出了展望.     

Nanoquencher‐Based Selective Imaging of Protein Glutathionylation in Live Mammalian Cells

Changes in the cellular levels of glutathione (GSH) and protein S‐glutathionylation (PSSG) are closely associated with a number of human diseases. Despite recent advances, few thiol‐reactive, small‐molecule GSH sensors could selectively detect GSH over other endogenous thiols, and none was capable of detecting PSSG in live mammalian cells. By using a dye‐loaded mesoporous silica nanoquencher (qMSN) capped with anti‐GSH antibody capable of highly selective binding toward GSH and glutathionylated proteins over other molecules, we have successfully developed a fluorescence GSH/PSSG nanosensor, which showed unprecedented selectivity toward PSSG even in the presence of GSH, had amplifiable and programmable fluorescence Turn‐ON properties, and could be used to image endogenous PSSG in live mammalian cells under stimulated conditions for the first time.     

Development of a Small Molecule Probe Capable of Discriminating Cysteine,Homocysteine, and Glutathione with Three Distinct Turn‐On Fluorescent Outputs

The simultaneous discrimination of Cys, Hcy, and GSH by a single probe is still an unmet challenge. The design and synthesis of a small molecule probe MeO‐BODIPY‐Cl (BODIPY=boron dipyrromethene) is presented, which can allow Cys, Hcy, and GSH to be simultaneously discriminated on the basis of three distinct fluorescence turn‐on responses. The probe reacts with these thiols to form sulfenyl‐substituted BODIPY, which is followed by intramolecular displacement to yield amino‐substituted BODIPY. The kinetic rate of the intramolecular displacement reaction determines the observed different sensing behavior. Therefore, the probe responds to Cys, Hcy, and GSH with fluorescence turn‐on colors of yellow, yellow and red, and red, respectively. With this promising feature in hand, the probe was successfully used in imaging of Cys, Hcy and GSH in living cells.     

Rational Design of an Ultrasensitive and Highly Selective Chemodosimeter by a Dual Quenching Mechanism for Cysteine Based on a Facile Michael‐Transcyclization Cascade Reaction

Differentiation of biologically important thiols, such as cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and glutathione (GSH) is still a challenging task. Herein, we present a novel fluorescent chemodosimeter capable of selectively detecting Cys over other biothiols including Hcy and GSH and other amino acids by a facile thiol‐Michael addition/transcyclization rearrangement cascade click process. The unique transcyclization step is critical for the selectivity as a result of the kinetically favorable formation of a six‐membered ring with the Cys Michael adduct. Moreover, the probe adopts a distinctive dual quenching mechanism—photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) to deliver a drastic turn‐on fluorescence response only at the Cys‐selective transcylization step. The judicious selection of strong electron‐withdrawing naphthalimide fluorophore with maleimide group enhances the electrophilicity and thus reactivity for the cascade process leading to fast detection and ultrasensitivity with a detection limit of 2.0 nm (S/N=3). The probe has demonstrated its practical utility potential in Cys imaging in live cells.     

A Reversible Fluorescent Probe for Real-Time Quantitative Monitoring of Cellular Glutathione

The ability to monitor and quantify glutathione (GSH) in live cells is essential in order to gain a detailed understanding of GSH-related pathological events. However, owing to their irreversible response mechanisms, most existing fluorescent GSH probes are not suitable for this purpose. We have developed a ratiometric fluorescent probe (QG- 1 ) for quantitatively monitoring cellular GSH. The probe responds specifically and reversibility to GSH with an ideal dissociation constant (K_d) of 2.59 mm and a fast response time (t_1/2=5.82 s). We also demonstrate that QG- 1 detection of GSH is feasible in a model protein system. QG- 1 was found to have extremely low cytotoxicity and was applied to determine the GSH concentration in live HeLa cells (5.40±0.87 mm ).     

Intracellular Thiols and Photo‐Illumination Sequentially Activate Doubly Locked Molecular Probes for Long‐Term Cell Highlighting and Tracking with Precise Spatial Accuracy

A novel photoconvertible fluorescent probe, which can be activated by intracellular thiols, has been synthesized. Such a molecular probe comprises three parts: a 7‐aminocoumarin phototrigger, a thiol‐removable energy acceptor, and a caged fluorescein scaffold with intracellular thiols reactivity as the fluorescent reporter. Extracellularly, the energy acceptor blocks the emission of the coumarin that regulates the photocleavage and photoactivation of the fluorescein. Intracelluarly, the high concentration of thiols releases the energy acceptor, thus activating the S1 state of the phototrigger, which emits coumarin blue fluorescence for pre‐visualization and liberates the caged green‐fluorescent fluorescein to highlight the specific cell upon illumination. Compared to traditional photoactivated organic dyes, the intracellular thiols activated probe requires double activations: one by intracellular thiols and the other by light activation. The dual activations restrict fluorescence precisely inside live cells and at the particular spatial region of light activation, thus a probe with precise spatial accuracy in live cells.     

Discriminative Detection of Biothiols by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy using a Methanethiosulfonate Trityl Probe

Biothiols, such as glutathione (GSH), homocysteine (Hcy), and cysteine (Cys), coexist in biological systems with diverse biological roles. Thus, analytical techniques that can detect, quantify, and distinguish between multiple biothiols are desirable but challenging. Herein, we demonstrate the simultaneous detection and quantitation of multiple biothiols, including up to three different biothiols in a single sample, using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and a trityl‐radical‐based probe (MTST). We term this technique EPR thiol‐trapping. MTST could trap thiols through its methanethiosulfonate group to form the corresponding disulfide conjugate with an EPR spectrum characteristic of the trapped thiol. MTST was used to investigate effects of l ‐buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the efflux of GSH and Cys from HepG2 cells.     

A Novel Fluorescent Probe Based on Perylene Derivative for Hg2+ Ions and Biological Thiols and its Application in Live Cell Imaging and Theoretical Calculations

The selective and sensitive detection of biothiols; cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH) in aqueous solutions is of considerable importance because of their pivotal roles in maintaining the reducing environment in the cells. This study describes a strategy for the determination of biothiols based on the PDI/Met‐Hg²⁺complex platform. We designed and fabricated methionine modified perylene diimide molecule as a selective sensing probe for Hg²⁺ ions in aqueous solutions ( PDI/Met‐Hg ²⁺). The complex between perylene bisimide derivative ( PDI/Met) and Hg²⁺ was investigated and it demonstrated turn‐on fluorescence response for the detection of the biological thiols. Besides, PDI/Met displayed fluorescence quenching response in the presence of mercury ions and the emission intensity of PDI/Met‐Hg²⁺ was recovered after transferring biothiols (Cys, Hcy, and GSH). Thus, PDI/Met could be utilized as a fluorescent chemosensor for the sequential recognition of mercury ions and biological thiols.     

Organelle targetable fluorescent probes for hydrogen peroxide

The review summarized organelle target strategies, structures, fluorescence behavior and biological applications of H₂O₂ fluorescent probes with mitochondria, nuclei and lysosomes-targetable ability.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Sulfoxide‐Functionalized BODIPYs as Chemosensors for Thiols

BODIPY‐based fluorescent chemosensors bearing sulfoxide function were designed and evaluated. Thiols triggered sulfoxide→sulfide transduction in these probes leads to an obvious red‐shift in absorption and dramatic fluorescence enhancement with distinctly ratiometric features, enabling the accurate assay of thiols in living cells.     

Sensitive near-infrared fluorescent probes for thiols based on sen bond cleavage: imaging in living cells and tissues

Cy-NiSe and Cy-TfSe were designed and synthesized as sensitive near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes for detecting thiols on the basis of Se?N bond cleavage both in cells and in tissues. Since a donor-excited photoinduced electron transfer (d-PET) process occurs between the modulator and the fluorophore, Cy-NiSe and Cy-TfSe have weak fluorescence. On titration with glutathione, the free dye exhibits significant fluorescence enhancement. The two probes are sensitive and selective for thiols over other relevant biological species. They can function rapidly at pH?7.4, and their emission lies in the NIR region. Confocal imaging confirms that Cy-NiSe and Cy-TfSe can be used for detecting thiols in living cells and tissues.