Target‐Triggered NIR Emission with a Large Stokes Shift for the Detection and Imaging of Cysteine in Living Cells

Background autofluorescence from biological systems generally reduces the sensitivity of a fluorescent probe for imaging biological targets. Addressing this challenge requires the development of fluorescent probes that produce emission in the near‐infrared region. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a fluorescent probe that generates an NIR emission with a large Stokes shift upon the selective response to Cys over Hcy and GSH. The probe is designed to consist of two Cys‐sensing sites, an acrylate ester and an aldehyde installed ortho to each other. The reaction of the probe with Cys triggers an excited state intramolecular proton transfer process upon photo‐excitation, thereby producing an NIR emission with a large Stokes shift. Accordingly, this probe hold great promise for the selective detection of Cys in biological systems. We further demonstrate the capacity of this probe for Cys imaging in living cells.     

A fluorescence turn-on probe for cysteine and homocysteine based on thiol-triggered benzothiazolidine ring formation

We synthesized a new coumarin-based probe TP, containing a disulfide moiety, to detect biothiols in cells. A fluorescence turn-on response is induced by the thiol–disulfide exchange of the probe, with subsequent intramolecular benzothiazolidine ring formation giving rise to a fluorescent product. The probe exhibits an excellent selectivity for cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy) over glutathione (GSH) and other amino acids. The fluorescent probe also exhibits a highly sensitive fluorescence turn-on response to Cys and Hcy with detection limits of 0.8 μM for Cys and 0.5 μM for Hcy. In addition, confocal fluorescence microscopy imaging using RAW264.7 macrophages demonstrates that the probe TP could be an efficient fluorescent detector for thiols in living cells.     

A near-infrared fluorescent probe for monitoring fluvastatin-stimulated endogenous H2S production

Most reported fluorescent probes have limitations in practical applications in living systems due to the strong autofluorescence background,construction of probes with near-infrared(NIR) fluorescence emission is an accessible approach for addressing this challenge.We here designed a NIR fluorescent probe for monitoring the endogenous production of H_2S in living cells.The designed probe showed significant NIR fluorescence turn-on response to H_2S with high selectivity,enabling the sensitive detection H_2S.Importantly,the probe could be applied in monitoring the endogenous production of H_2S in raw 264.7 macrophages.This study showed that fluvastatin can promote the activity of cystathionineγ-lyase(CSE) for generation H_2S.     

A Long-wavelength Emissive Phenothiazine Derived Fluorescent Probe for Detecting HOCl Upregulation in 5-FU Stimulated Living Cells

The endogenous hypochlorous acid(HOCl) has been evidenced in a variety of cellular courses. However, the role of HOCl in most pathophysiological processes still keeps unclear because of the limited detecting tools. In this work, we presented the pre- paration of a phenothiazine-derived fluorescent probe ClO-1 for HOCl detection with a cyanopyridinium moiety to improve its water solubility and lengthen its emission wavelength. The HOCl-promoted oxidation of sulfur atom in the probe resulted in a 460-fold emission intensity enhancement at 635 nm with high selectivity and sensitivity(detection limit: 1.12 nmol/L). The rapid response(5 s) also endowed the probe with real-time detection ability. Successfully, ClO-1 was devoted to the bioimaging of endogenous HOCl in inflamed RAW 264.7 cells and 5-fluorouracil-treated MCF-7 cells.     

基于1,8-萘酰亚胺与罗丹明B间荧光共振能量转移的高选择性Hg2+比率荧光探针

以罗丹明B与1,8-萘二甲酰亚胺反应合成了1个高选择性Hg²⁺比率荧光探针(RN). 在甲醇/乙腈/4-羟基哌嗪乙磺酸缓冲溶液(pH=7.2, 体积比8:1:1)中, RN对Hg²⁺具有比色和比率荧光双重响应. 加入Hg²⁺后, RN的紫外-可见光谱在约556 nm处产生强吸收, 溶液由浅绿色变为橙色, 其它金属离子对RN的紫外-可见光谱几乎无影响. 无Hg²⁺存在时, RN的荧光光谱在540 nm处出现萘二甲酰亚胺荧光团的特征峰; 加入Hg²⁺后, 540 nm处的发射带逐渐消失, 同时在580 nm附近产生强荧光, 荧光颜色从绿色变为橙色. 这归因于从萘酰亚胺到开环罗丹明B的荧光共振能量转移(FRET), 探针RN对Hg²⁺的比率荧光响应具有高选择性, 不受其它共存金属离子的干扰.     

一种新型快速检测半胱氨酸的荧光探针EI北大核心CSCD

基于三苯胺母体的强供电子能力,设计合成了一种共轭性良好的新型半胱氨酸(Cys)荧光探针。采用荧光光谱法和紫外-可见光谱法研究了目标探针T-Probe对半胱氨酸(Cys)的光谱响应。结果表明:目标探针分子与Cys作用后,荧光发射波长有约20 nm红移,荧光强度发生明显的增强,在365 nm紫外灯下,溶液由青色变为蓝色;探针分子选择性识别Cys的检测限为98.4 nmol/L,且灵敏度较高。     

一种1,8-萘酰亚胺衍生物检测半胱氨酸荧光探针 的合成及其在活细胞和秀丽隐杆线虫中成像中的运用

基于1,8-萘酰亚胺衍生物,构建了一种检测半胱氨酸(Cys)的新型荧光探针TPFC-Acryloyl。光谱研究表明该探针能有效识别Cys且能够在1min内实现快速响应。探针对Cys的检测表现出高选择性,检测限为2.13μmol/L。经荧光光谱和质谱实验确证其检测机理为：Cys与TPFC-Acryloyl分子中的丙烯酸酯发生共轭加成-环化反应,进而羟基裸露的同时释放出黄色荧光。细胞毒性测试表明探针TPFC-Acryloyl的细胞毒性低。此外,该探针还被成功应用于活细胞和秀丽隐杆线虫中Cys的荧光成像。     

Selective Imaging of HClO in the Liver Tissue In Vivo Using a Near-infrared Hepatocyte-specific Fluorescent Probe

Liver injury is typified by an inflammatory response. Hypochlorous acid (HClO), an important endogenous reactive oxygen species, is regarded as a biomarker associated with liver injury. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes with the advantage of deep tissue penetrating and low auto-fluorescence interference are more suitable for bioimaging in vivo. Thus, in this work, we designed and synthesized a novel NIR hepatocyte-specific fluorescent probe named NHF . The probe NHF showed fast response (<3 s), large spectral variation, and good selectivity to trace HClO in buffer solution. By employing N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) as the targeting ligand, probe NHF can be actively delivered to the liver tissue of zebrafish and mice. It is important that probe NHF is the first NIR hepatocyte-specific fluorescent probe, which successfully visualized the up-regulation of endogenous HClO in the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model HepG2 cells and dynamically monitored APAP-induced endogenous HClO in the liver tissue of zebrafish and mice.     

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.     

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.     

A Fluorescent Probe for Rapid,High-Contrast Visualization of Folate-Receptor-Expressing Tumors In Vivo

Folate receptors (FRs) are membrane proteins involved in folic acid uptake, and the alpha isoform (FR-α) is overexpressed in ovarian and endometrial cancer cells. For fluorescence imaging of FRs in vivo, the near-infrared (NIR) region (650–900 nm), in which tissue penetration is high and autofluorescence is low, is optimal, but existing NIR fluorescent probes targeting FR-α show high non-specific tissue adsorption, and require prolonged washout to visualize tumors. We have designed and synthesized a new NIR fluorescent probe, FolateSiR-1 , utilizing a Si-rhodamine fluorophore having a carboxy group at the benzene moiety, coupled to a folate ligand moiety through a negatively charged tripeptide linker. This probe exhibits very low background fluorescence and afforded a tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) of up to 83 in FR-expressing tumor-bearing mice within 30 min. Thus, FolateSiR-1 has the potential to contribute to the research in the field of biology and the clinical medicine.     

用于谷胱甘肽检测的新型罗丹明衍生物荧光探针EI北大核心CSCD

合成了一种反应型近红外荧光探针N-Rh-GSH,该探针以罗丹明衍生物为荧光母体,通过与谷胱甘肽(GSH)作用触发螺环的开关来实现信号的响应,其开环释放的荧光产物具有760 nm的近红外发射波长。细胞实验表明,该探针可实现对活细胞中GSH的成像。     

An ESIPT-based fluorescent probe for sensitive and selective detection of Cys/Hcy over GSH with a red emission and a large Stokes shift

An ESIPT-based fluorescent probe (Probe 1) using acrylate as recognition group for the selective and sensitive detection of cysteine/homocysteine (Cys/Hcy) has been developed. In the presence of Cys/Hcy, this probe was transformed into 1,3-bis(bispyridin-2ylimino)isoindolin-4-ol (dye 4) which displayed red fluorescence with a large Stokes shift (217 nm) when excited. The detection limits are as low as 5.4 nM and 7.0 nM for Cys and Hcy respectively (based on S/N = 3). Importantly, this probe has been successfully demonstrated for the detection of intracellular Cys/Hcy in living cells.     

A Fluorescent Probe for Rapid,High‐Contrast Visualization of Folate‐Receptor‐Expressing Tumors In Vivo

Folate receptors (FRs) are membrane proteins involved in folic acid uptake, and the alpha isoform (FR‐α) is overexpressed in ovarian and endometrial cancer cells. For fluorescence imaging of FRs in vivo, the near‐infrared (NIR) region (650–900 nm), in which tissue penetration is high and autofluorescence is low, is optimal, but existing NIR fluorescent probes targeting FR‐α show high non‐specific tissue adsorption, and require prolonged washout to visualize tumors. We have designed and synthesized a new NIR fluorescent probe, FolateSiR‐1 , utilizing a Si‐rhodamine fluorophore having a carboxy group at the benzene moiety, coupled to a folate ligand moiety through a negatively charged tripeptide linker. This probe exhibits very low background fluorescence and afforded a tumor‐to‐background ratio (TBR) of up to 83 in FR‐expressing tumor‐bearing mice within 30 min. Thus, FolateSiR‐1 has the potential to contribute to the research in the field of biology and the clinical medicine.     

A dual-response naphthofluorescein-based fluorescent probe for multiple-channel imaging of cysteine/homocysteine in living cells

A naphthofluorescein-based fluorescent probe with two independent reaction sites (nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole and acrylate moiety) was developed. Integrating these two reaction sites into a single molecule not only can guarantee the selective detection of Cys/Hcy in an elegant fashion, but also can enable Cys/Hcy detection in a multiple-channel responsive manner.     

A near-infrared fluorescent probe for lipid hydroperoxides in living cells

An NIR (near-infrared) fluorescent probe TCP (tricarbocyanine diphenylphosphine) including a non-conjugated 'pre-tricarbocyanine' was designed and synthesized for visualizing lipid hydroperoxides (ROOH) in living cells. The excitation and emission spectra of tricarbocyanine in the NIR region can effectively avoid background fluorescence interference in biological systems. The probe exhibited a rapid fluorescence response to ROOH and high selectivity for ROOH over other ROS (reactive oxygen species) and some biological compounds, and the limit of detection was 38 pM. In addition, the probe was stable, and less cytotoxic, which indicated that it has potential application in detecting lipid hydroperoxides in living biological systems.     

A red-emitting water-soluble fluorescent probe for biothiol detection with a large Stokes shift

A highly water soluble fluorescent probe was developed for sensitive and selective detection of biothiols with a red emission and a large Stokes shift. The probe was successfully applied to detect biothiols both in aqueous solution and in living cells.     

Characterization of local polarity and structure of Cys121 domain in beta-lactoglobulin with a new thiol-specific fluorescent probe

The design and synthesis of a new polarity-sensitive fluorescent probe, 3-(4-chloro-6-p-maleimidylphenoxyl-1,3,5-triazinylamino)-7-dimethylamino-2-methylphenazine, is reported for characterizing the local polarity and structure, such as the thiol domain, of a protein. The probe comprises a polarity-sensitive fluorophore (neutral red moiety) and a thiol-specific labeling group (maleimidyl moiety). The probe exhibits a sensitive response of shift of fluorescence maximum emission wavelength to solvent polarity, but not to pH and temperature, which makes the probe suitable for determining the local polarity change of a protein denatured by pH or temperature. The application of this kind has been first demonstrated for the polarity detection of the Cys121 domain of beta-lactoglobulin. It is found that the polarity of the Cys121 domain corresponds to a dielectric constant of 17.3, and this value hardly alters after heat treatment, which may be attributed to the improved thermal reversibility by the Cys121 modification. The simple mixture of the probe and the protein at pH 5.6 is also studied, revealing that the free probe prefers to bind to an outer hydrophobic region. Heat treatment of the mixture causes the modification of Cys121 residues; this modification does not completely destroy the calyx but results in the opening of a channel for the probe to enter the calyx of beta-lactoglobulin. These results show that Cys121 plays an important role not only in the thermal reversibility but also in the accessibility of the calyx to a ligand. The strategy presented here further indicates that the combination of polarity-sensitive fluorescence probe with site-specific labeling may serve as a powerful means for elucidating structures and properties of proteins.     

Sensing for intracellular thiols by water-insoluble two-photon fluorescent probe incorporating nanogel

A novel “turn-on” two-photon fluorescent probe containing a π-conjugated triarylboron luminogen and a maleimide moiety DMDP-M based on the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) mechanism for biothiol detection was designed and synthesized. By simply loading the hydrophobic DMDP-M on a cross-linked Pluronic^® F127 nanogel (CL-F127), a probing system DMDP-M/CL-F127 was established, which shows quick response, high selectivity and sensitivity to cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH) in aqueous phase. The DMDP-M/CL-F127 system presented the fastest response to Cys with a rate constant of 0.56 min⁻¹, and the detection limit to Cys was calculated to be as low as 0.18 μM. The DMDP-M/CL-F127 system has been successfully applied to the fluorescence imaging of biothiols in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts either with single-photon or two-photon excitation because of its high biocompatibility and cell-membrane permeability. The present work provides a general, simple and efficient strategy for the application of hydrophobic molecules to sensing biothiols in aqueous phase, and a novel sensing system for intracellular biothiols fitted for both single-photon and two-photon fluorescence imaging.