Boron dipyrromethene fluorophore based fluorescence sensor for the selective imaging of Zn(II) in living cells

A simple PET fluorescence sensor (BDA) for Zn2+ that utilizes 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-boron dipyrromethene as a reporting group and di(2-picolyl)amine as a chelator for Zn2+ has been synthesized and characterized. BDA has an excitation (491 nm) and emission wavelength (509 nm) in the visible range. The fluorescence quantum yields of the zinc-free and zinc-bound states of BDA are 0.077 and 0.857, respectively. With a low pKa of 2.1 +/- 0.1, BDA has the advantage of less sensitivity to pH than fluorescein-based Zn2+ sensors, and the fluorescence emission of zinc-binding is pH-independent in the range of pH 3-10. Under physiological conditions, metal ions such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+ and Fe2+ have little interference. The apparent dissociation constant (Kd) is 1.0 +/- 0.1 nM. Using fluorescence microscopy, the sensor is shown to be capable of imaging intracellular Zn2+ changes.     

Bis-azamacrocyclic anthracene as a fluorescent chemosensor for cations in aqueous solution

A bis-azamacrocyclic anthracene (L2), which has two a 12-membered cyclic tetraamine (cyclen) connected through a 9,10-dimethylanthracene spacer, has been synthesized as a new fluorescent chemosensor for detection of pH and metal cations in aqueous solution (cyclen = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, L2 = 9,10-bis(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1-ylmethyl)anthracene). The fluorescence response of L2 has been studied in comparison to that of the previously reported monoazamacrocyclic anthracene (L1 = 1-(9-anthrylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane). Plots of the fluorescence intensity of L2 against pH demonstrate a sigmoidal curve with pKa 7.4, which is lower than that of L1 (8.3). Potentiometric titration reveals that the increase in the L2 fluorescence requires protonation of both cyclen rings, thus resulting in the lower pKa value. L2 demonstrates impressive fluorescence response against metal cations. At basic pH, upon addition of Zn2+ or Cd2+, L1 leads to an increase in the fluorescence intensity with a 1:1 metal-intensity response. L2, however, shows a 2:1 response to Zn2+, while showing a 1:1 response to Cd2+. At neutral pH, L1 fluorescence decreases upon addition of Zn2+ or Cd2+ because of a formation of metal-anthracene pi complex. L2, however, still demonstrates a Zn2+-induced increase in intensity with a 2:1 response, while no change in intensity is observed upon Cd2+ addition. The obtained findings suggest potential utilities of L2 as a new type fluorescent chemosensor for the detection of cations in aqueous solution.     

A new fluorescent probe for zinc(II): an 8-hydroxy-5-N,N-dimethylaminosulfonylquinoline-pendant 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane

A new fluorescent probe for Zn2+, namely, 8-hydroxy-5-N,N-dimethylaminosulfonylquinolin-2-ylmethyl-pendant cyclen (L8), was designed and synthesized (cyclen=1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane). By potentiometric pH, 1H NMR, and UV spectroscopic titrations, the deprotonation constants pKa1-pKa6 of L(8)4 HCl were determined to be <2, <2, <2 (for amino groups of the cyclen and quinoline moieties), 7.19+/-0.05 (for 8-OH of the quinoline moiety), 10.10+/-0.05, and 11.49+/-0.05, respectively, at 25 degrees C with I=0.1 (NaNO3). The results of 1H NMR, potentiometric pH, and UV titrations, as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, showed that L8 and Zn2+ form a 1:1 complex [Zn(H-1L8)], in which the 8-OH group of the quinoline ring of L8 is deprotonated and coordinates to Zn2+, in aqueous solution at neutral pH. On addition of one equivalent of Zn2+ and Cd2+, the fluorescence emission of L8 (5 microM) at 512 nm in aqueous solution at pH 7.4 [10 mM HEPES with I=0.1 (NaNO3)] and 25 degrees C increased by factors of 17 and 43, respectively. We found that the cyclen moiety has the unique property of quenching the fluorescence emission of the quinolinol moiety when not complexed with metal cations, but enhancing emission when complexed with Zn2+ or Cd2+. In addition, the Zn2+-L8 complex [Zn(H-1L8)] is much more thermodynamically and kinetically stable (Kd{Zn(H-1L8)}=[Zn2+]free[L8]free/[Zn(H-1L8)]=8 fM at pH 7.4) than the Zn2+ complexes of our previous Zn2+ fluorophores ([Zn(H-1L2)] and [Zn(L3)]). Furthermore, formation of [Zn(H-1L8)] is much faster than those of [Zn(H-1L2)] and [Zn(L3)]. The staining of early-stage apoptotic cells with L8 is also described.     

Selective zinc sensor molecules with various affinities for Zn2+, revealing dynamics and regional distribution of synaptically released Zn2+ in hippocampal slices

We have developed a series of fluorescent Zn(2+) sensor molecules with distinct affinities for Zn(2+), because biological Zn(2+) concentrations vary over a wide range from sub-nanomolar to millimolar. The new sensors have K(d) values in the range of 10(-8)-10(-4) M, compared with 2.7 nM for ZnAF-2. They do not fluoresce in the presence of other biologically important metal ions such as calcium or magnesium, and they can detect Zn(2+) within 100 ms. In cultured cells, the fluorescence intensity of ZnAF-2 was saturated at low Zn(2+) concentration, while that of ZnAF-3 (K(d) = 0.79 muM) was not saturated even at relatively high Zn(2+) concentrations. In hippocampal slices, we measured synaptic release of Zn(2+) in response to high-potassium-induced depolarization. ZnAF-2 showed similar levels of fluorescence increase in dentate gyrus (DG), CA3 and CA1, which were indistinguishable. However, ZnAF-3 showed a fluorescence increase only in DG. Thus, by using a combination of sensor molecules, it was demonstrated for the first time that a higher Zn(2+) concentration is released in DG than in CA3 or CA1 and that we can easily visualize Zn(2+) concentration over a wide range. We believe that the use of various combinations of ZnAF family members will offer unprecedented versatility for fluorescence-microscopic imaging of Zn(2+) in biological applications.     

Kinetic and mechanistic analysis of nonenzymatic, template-directed oligoribonucleotide ligation

The role of divalent cations in the mechanism of pyrophosphate-activated, template-directed oligoribonucleotide ligation has been investigated. The dependence of the reaction rate on Mg2+ concentration suggests a kinetic scheme in which a Mg2+ ion must bind before ligation can proceed. Mn2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+ can also catalyze the reaction. Although Pb2+ and Zn2+ do not catalyze the reaction in the absence of other divalent ions, they significantly modulate the reaction rate when added in the presence of Mg2+, with Pb2+ stimulating the reaction (up to 65-fold) and Zn2+ inhibiting the reaction. The logarithm of the ligation rate increases linearly, with slope of 0.95, as a function of pH, indicating that the reaction involves a single critical deprotonation step. The ligation rates observed with the different divalent metal ion catalysts (Mn2+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > Sr2+ = Ba2+) vary inversely with the pKa values of their bound water molecules. The pH profile and these relative ligation rates suggest a mechanism in which a metal-bound hydroxide ion located near the ligation junction promotes catalysis, most likely by deprotonation of the hydroxl nucleophile. The effects of changing either the leaving group or the attacking hydroxyl, together with the large delta S(++) value for oligonucleotide ligation (about -20 eu), are consistent with an associative transition state.     

一种高灵敏度高选择性的荧光素基比色荧光锌传感器

本文报道了一种基于荧光素的锌离子传感器FN1,其在甲醇溶液中显示了对锌离子极高的灵敏度和选择性。随着锌离子的滴加,紫外-可见光谱中最初在371 nm处的吸收峰消失,在437 nm处出现了一个新峰。当在混合金属离子的甲醇溶液中滴加了相对于二价金属离子的等物质的量浓度的锌离子或相对于一价金属离子0.5倍物质的量浓度的锌离子后,锌离子积分荧光强度增强了近37倍（Φ=0.48,λ_max(em)=513 nm）,估算的锌离子检测限为7 μg·L^-1。基于紫外-可见光、荧光和质谱的结果,讨论了1∶1的FN1/Zn²⁺配合物的结合机理。     

Spectroscopic properties and intense red-light emission of (Ca, Eu, M)WO4 (M=Mg, Zn, Li)

The red-emitting phosphors of (Ca, Eu, M)WO4 (M=Mg, Zn, Li) were prepared through solid-state reactions, and their spectroscopic properties were studied. After the addition of a small amount of Mg2+, Zn2+ or Li+ in (Ca, Eu)WO4, the red-light emission intensity of Eu3+ increases obviously. In the luminescence spectra of the phosphors, the predominant transition emission is 5D0-->7F2 (616nm), whereas the other emissions are very weak. The excitation spectra are composed of interweaved ligand-to-metal charge-transfer bands (CTB) of W6+-O(2-) and Eu3+-O(2-), and a few 4f excitation transitions of Eu3+. Among the 4f excitation transitions of Eu3+, there are three strong excitation lines corresponding to 7F0-->5L6, 7F0-->5D2 and 7F0-->5D1 transitions, whose relative excitation intensity ratio is seriously affected when Li+ doped in the host. The new phosphors may be applied as red-emitting phosphors for white light emitting diodes.     

Fluorescence sensing and binding behavior of aminobenzenesulfonamidoquinolino-beta-cyclodextrin to Zn2+

A water-soluble fluorescent zinc sensor which binds strongly to Zn2+ (log K = 12.4) was successfully synthesized under physiological conditions. This sensor exhibits a good fluorescence response to Zn2+ over a wide pH range in water. Under the same conditions, several metal ions commonly present in a physiological environment, such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, and Co2+, showed little interference to the fluorescence response to Zn2+. [structure: see text]     

Electronic effect on the optical properties and sensing ability of AIEgens with ESIPT process based on salicylaldehyde azine

Two novel AIE-active salicylaldehyde azine(SAA) derivatives with a typical excited-state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT) process are prepared by introducing electron-withdrawing and donating groups at para-position of phenolic hydroxyl group(CN-SAA and TPA-SAA). The effect of the proton activity in SAA framework on their optical behaviors is investigated spectroscopically. The results from NMR and solvation measurements show that the proton of phenolic hydroxyl group has higher activity when there are electron-withdrawing groups, and the absorption and fluorescence spectra in buffers with different pH also provide the same results. After inviting F. as a nucleophilic probe, this proton activity difference in CN-SAA and TPA-SAA becomes more obvious. The potential application of both molecules is investigated. TPA-SAA exhibits good quantitative sensing ability towards F. with a fluorescence "turn-on" mode, whereas the aggregates of TPA-SAA can selectively and sensitively detect Cu2+ in aqueous solution. From these results, a structure-property relationship is established: the occurrence of ESIPT process will become much easier when linking electron-withdrawing groups at the para-position of phenolic hydroxyl group(e.g., CN-SAA),and it is better to introduce electron-donating groups to enhance the sensing ability towards ions(e.g., TPA-SAA). This work will provide guidance for further design and preparation of AIE-active luminogens with ESIPT process for sensing applications.     

Development of an iminocoumarin-based zinc sensor suitable for ratiometric fluorescence imaging of neuronal zinc

Ratiometric imaging is a technique to reduce artifacts by minimizing the influence of extraneous factors on the fluorescence of a sensor and is particularly useful for cellular imaging studies. Here we characterized the iminocoumarin fluorophore as a new scaffold for sensors for ratiometric imaging. The iminocoumarin 4 showed a high quantum yield in aqueous media on excitation in the visible wavelength region, while its coumarin analogue showed little fluorescence. We therefore developed a novel fluorescence probe, ZnIC, for ratiometric imaging of Zn2+, using iminocoumarin as a fluorophore and (ethylamino)dipicolylamine as a Zn2+ chelator. ZnIC exhibited almost the same fluorescence properties as 4, and the emission spectrum of this probe was red-shifted on addition of Zn2+ under physiological conditions. ZnIC is selective for Zn2+ over other biologically important metal ions, such as Ca2+ and Mg2+, and has high affinity for Zn2+. To confirm the suitability of ZnIC for biological applications, we employed it for the ratiometric detection of changes in intracellular Zn2+ in cultured cells and in rat hippocampal slices. The results indicate that iminocoumarin is a useful fluorophore for fluorescence microscopic imaging and that ZnIC should be useful for studies on the biological functions of Zn2+.     

罗丹明类荧光探针的合成及对铜离子的检测

合成了罗丹明类Cu2+荧光增强型分子探针3',6'-双(二乙氨基)-2-(N-乙叉基氨基)螺[异吲哚-1,9'-占吨]-3-酮（RA）,并研究了它的光谱性能及对铜离子的识别作用.在乙腈/水（体积比1/1）的介质中,当加入Cu2+后探针RA显玫瑰红色,最大吸收波长为548 nm,最大发射波长为571 nm,且荧光强度显著增强,但是,其它常见离子如Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Cd2+, Cr3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Ag+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Fe3+, Hg2+不引起或引起很小的紫外/可见或荧光光谱变化.RA的选择性荧光增强主要是由于Cu2+诱导分子中的酰胺闭环结构发生开环,导致分子结构的共轭程度增大.在6.5×10-8～2.9×10-6 mol?L-1范围内RA可以有效检测Cu2+,检测限为5.0×10-8 mol?L-1.RA对Cu2+的识别不可逆,而且探针RA对pH值不敏感,可以在比较宽的范围内（pH=4.1～10.5）高灵敏、高选择性检测Cu2+.     

Development of selective,visible light-excitable,fluorescent magnesium ion probes with a novel fluorescence switching mechanism

Novel fluorescent Mg2+ probes, 2'-carboxyfluorescein (2'-CF) and its derivatives, that are excitable by visible light, were designed, synthesized and characterized. After complexation with Mg2+, the absorption and emission maxima of these fluorescent probes were red-shifted and the fluorescence intensity was increased 11-fold at neutral pH. The apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of the Mg2+-2'-CF complex was 15.8 mM at neutral pH. The Kd of the Ca2+-2'-CF complex was about 10 times larger than that of the Mg2+ complex and the other derivatives showed similar characteristics. In contrast, all the commercially available fluorescent Mg2+ probes have a higher affinity for Ca2+ than Mg2+. 2'-CF fluoresced in alkaline solution (pH > 8) and the pK, value was 8.8. The pKa value of the Mg2+-2'-CF complex was 6.8, and the fluorescence intensity was increased in the neutral conditions. Thus, the addition of Mg2+ resulted in a lowering of the pKa, and also an increase of the fluorescence intensity.     

水杨醛-4-甲氧基苯甲酰腙识别锌离子的研究

设计合成了荧光传感分子水杨醛-4-甲氧基苯甲酰腙(SAMB),通过IR、1HNMR和元素分析确证了其结构,利用紫外-可见吸收光谱和荧光光谱考察了其对不同阳离子的识别作用。结果表明,SAMB的荧光发射对锌离子表现出高选择性响应,且形成1∶1型配合物。乙醇中锌离子的加入导致SAMB的荧光增强328倍,而其他过渡金属离子只引起SAMB的荧光的略微增强。初步探讨了受体分子与锌离子的结合模式与荧光增强机理。     

4-[2-(二甲氨基)乙氧基]-N-十八烷基-1,8-萘酰亚胺荧光染料的合成及其性能研究

以4-溴-1,8-萘酐为原料,合成脂溶性4-[2-(二甲氨基)乙氧基]-N-十八烷基-1,8-萘酰亚胺。对其进行了1H NMR和IR表征。考察了荧光染料在DMF、乙腈、丙酮、乙酸乙酯和乙醚5种溶剂中的荧光光谱和吸收光谱,发现由于溶剂效应,随溶剂极性由小到大,荧光光谱和吸收光谱的最大峰值波长逐渐红移。考察了不同金属离子和pH对荧光染料荧光光谱的影响,结果表明荧光强度随Fe3+、Zn2+、Co2+浓度增大而逐渐增强,Fe3+的影响最为显著;当pH<7时,荧光强度随着pH的降低逐渐增强;进一步考察了Fe3+、Zn2+、Co2+对吸收光谱的影响,结果发现吸收光谱均蓝移。分析认为荧光染料的光致电子转移被阻碍,实验结果表明,合成的新型荧光染料可用于溶液中金属离子和pH的检测。     

Quinoline-based molecular clips for selective fluorescent detection of Zn2+

New selective Zn2+ fluorescent sensors, di(2-quinoline-carbaldehyde)-2,2'-bibenzoyl-hydrazone (QB1) and di(2-quinolinecarbaldehyde)-6,6'-dicarboxylic acid hydrazone-2,2'-bipyridine (QB2), have been designed and prepared. Both QB sensors exhibit an emission band centered at 405 nm (excitation at 350 nm) with low quantum yield. Zinc binding not only red-shifts the emission band to 500 nm, but also enhances the fluorescence intensity by an order of magnitude based on the deprotonization strategy via self-assembly. These probes are highly selective for Zn2+ over biologically relevant alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and the first row transition metals such as Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+ and Ni2+ in buffered aqueous DMSO solution.     

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.     

Quantifying the relative contribution of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic environments, and coordinating groups, in the zinc(II)-water acidity by synthetic modelling chemistry

Ligands derived from the tripodal N4 ligand tris(pyridylmethyl)amine ((pyCH2)3N, tpa) of general formula (6-RNHpyCH2)nN(CH2py)(3-n)(R = H, n= 1-3 L(1-3); R = neopentyl, n= 1-3 L'(1-3)) were used to elucidate and quantify the magnitude of the effects exerted by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic environments in the zinc-water acidity of their complexes. The pKa of the zinc-bound water molecule of [(L(1-3))Zn(OH2)]2+ and [(L'(1-3))Zn(OH2)]2+ 1'-3' was determined by potentiometric pH titrations in water (1-3) or water-ethanol (1:1) (1'-3'). The zinc(II) water acidity gradually increases as the number of -NH2 hydrogen bonding groups adjacent to the water molecule increases. Thus, the zinc-bound water of [(L3)Zn(OH2)]2+ and [(tpa)Zn(OH2)]2+ deprotonate with pKa values of 6.0 and 8.0, respectively. The pKa of the water molecule, however, is only raised from 8.0 in [(tpa)Zn(OH2)]2+ to 9.1 in [(bpg)Zn(OH2)]+ (bpa =(pyCH2)2N(CH2COO-)). Moreover, the acidity of the zinc-bound water of several of the five-coordinate zinc(II) complexes with the hydrogen bonding groups is greater than that of four-coordinate [((12)aneN3)Zn(OH2)]2+ (pKa = 7.0). This result shows that the magnitude of the effect exerted by the hydrogen bonding groups can be larger than that induced by changing one neutral by one anionic ligand, and/or even by changing the coordination number of the zinc(II) centre. The X-ray structure of [(L'2)Zn(OH)]ClO4 2' and [(L'3)Zn(OH)]ClO4.CH3CN 3'.CH3CN is reported, and show the neopentylamino groups forming N-H...O hydrogen bonds with the zinc-bound hydroxide. Although, which have hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic groups, have a zinc-bound water more acidic than [(tpa)Zn(OH2)]2+, their pKa is not always lower than that of 1-3. This result suggests that a hydrogen bonding microenvironment may be more effective than a hydrophobic one to increase the zinc-water acidity.     

Potentiometric-spectroscopic evaluation of metal-ion complexes by humic fractions extracted from corn tissue

Humic fraction (HF) functional group-type and content are expected to depend on molecular size, which in turn, is expected to influence formation of heavy-metal complexes. In this study, corn (Zea mays L.) stalks and leaves were decomposed for an 8-month period to produce water-soluble humic substances. These substances were separated into three water-soluble fractions, HF1, HF2 and HF3, from highest to lowest relative molecular size. Functional group determination showed that carboxylic, and phenolic OH acidity increased as relative molecular size of humic fractions decreased. We also observed decreasing C/O ratios from larger to smaller corn tissue-derived humic fractions, whereas N/C and H/C ratios remained relatively unaffected. Furthermore, using potentiometric titration and FTIR spectroscopy we studied formation of Ca2+-, Cd2+-, and Cu2+-humic fraction complexes and how they were affected by pH and molecular size. We determined that metal-humic complexes exhibited at least two types of functional group-sites with respect to Ca2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+ complexation. Strength of metal-ion humic complexes followed the order Cu2+ > Cd2+ > Ca2+ and was affected by pH, especially for low affinity sites. Carboxylic groups were most likely the dominant group-sites involved in complex formation. Magnitude of the metal-humic formation constants in the logarithmic form at the lowest equilibrium metal-ion concentration, under the various pH values tested, varied from 5.39 to 5.90 for Ca2+, 5.36 to 6.01 for Cd2+, and 6.93 to 7.71 for Cu2+. Furthermore, the formation constants appeared to be positively influenced by decreasing molecular size of water-soluble humic fraction, and increasing pH. However, our molecular spectra showed that the pKa of corn humic fractions increased with decreasing relative molecular size and that Cu2+ was more covalently bonded by humic fractions than were Ca2+ and Cd2+, and the nature of the covalent bond character was independent of pH.     

A new fluorescent chemosensor for copper ions based on tripeptide glycyl-histidyl-lysine (GHK)

[structure: see text]. A new fluorescent chemosensor for Cu2+ ions was synthesized by modifying the tripeptide glycyl-histidyl-lysine (GHK) with 9-carbonylanthracene via the standard Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis method. While significant fluorescence quenching was observed from the molecule upon binding with Cu2+, addition of Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ to the peptide solution caused a minimum fluorescence emission spectral change, indicating a high specificity of this chemosensor for Cu2+ ions. Effects of pH were also investigated.     

A long lifetime chemical sensor: study on fluorescence property of fluorescein isothiocyanate and preparation of pH chemical sensor

The fluorescence property of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) in acid-alkaline medium was studied by spectrofluorimetry. The characteristic of FITC response to hydrogen ion has been examined in acid-alkaline solution. A novel pH chemical sensor was prepared based on the relationship between the relative fluorescence intensity of FITC and pH. The measurement of relative fluorescence intensity was carried out at 362 nm with excitation at 250 nm. The excellent linear relationship was obtained between relative fluorescence intensity and pH in the range of pH 1-5. The linear regression equation of the calibration graph is F = 66.871 + 6.605 pH (F is relative fluorescence intensity), with a correlation coefficient of linear regression of 0.9995. Effects of temperature, concentration of FITC on the response to hydrogen ion had been examined. It was important that this chemical sensor was long lifetime, and the property of response to hydrogen ion was stable for at least 70 days. This pH sensor can be used for measuring pH value in water solution. The accuracy is 0.01 pH unit. The results obtained by the pH sensor agreed with those by the pH meter. Obviously, this pH sensor is potential for determining pH change real time in biological system.