Photoproteins as luminescent labels in binding assays

Certain marine organisms produce calcium-activated photoproteins that allow them to emit light for a variety of purposes, such as defense, feeding, breeding, etc. Even though there are many bioluminescent organisms in nature, only a few photoproteins have been isolated and characterized. The mechanism of emission of light in the blue region is the result of an internal chemical reaction. Because there is no need for excitation through external irradiation for the emission of bioluminescence, the signal produced has virtually no background. This allows for the detection of the proteins at extremely low levels, making these photoproteins attractive labels for analytical applications. In that regard, the use of certain photoproteins, namely, aequorin, obelin, and the green fluorescent protein as labels in the design and development of binding assays for biomolecules has been reviewed. In addition, a related fluorescent photoprotein, the green fluorescent protein (GFP), has been recently employed in bioanalysis. The use of GFP in binding assays is also discussed in this review. Received: 7 November 1999 / Revised: 25 January 2000 / Accepted: 26 January 2000     

Application of luminescent nanocrystals as labels for biological molecules

Luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals, so called quantum dots (QD), have attracted increasing interest for bioanalytical labeling applications in recent years. This review describes the major optical and (bio)chemical features of this class of label, compared with organic dyes. Different conjugation methods are also discussed and the most important recent applications are presented. An overview over the current state-of-the-art is given, as also is an outlook on possibilities and limitations.     

Polarization immunoassays using reactive ruthenium metal-ligand complexes as luminescent labels

The first competitive fluorescence polarization immunoassay using ruthenium metal-ligand complexes (5-MC and 55-DC) as labels is described. These were newly synthesized and characterized in terms of their spectra, their covalent linkage to proteins, and their use in both homogeneous and competitive immunoassays. Linkage to proteins was achieved by the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester method, which was demonstrated for the systems HSA-anti-HSA and myoglobin-anti-myoglobin. The values of the fundamental polarization are 0.18 for 5-MC and 0.33 for 55-DC. Polarization immunoassays with labeled HSA and myoglobin were performed in the homogeneous format and resulted in an increase of the fluorescence polarization of up to 100%. In the competitive assay, a decrease in polarization of >90% was detectable. When the competitive HSA immunoassay was validated against an independent test both methods gave almost the same results.     

Simultaneous detection of enterovirus 71 and coxsackievirus A16 using dual-colour upconversion luminescent nanoparticles as labels

We highlight a novel fluorescence analysis for sensitive and selective detection of EV-71 and CV-A16 by combining labelling technology based on dual-colour upconversion fluorescence nanoparticles (UCNPs) with magnetic bioseparation and concentration technology based on magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs).     

Seeing the light: luminescent reporter gene assays

The luminescent reporter gene assay (LRGA) is arguably the most prominent type of reporter gene assay used in biomolecular and pharmaceutical development laboratories. Part of this popularity is due to the high signal associated with luciferases, the foundation of this technology. This feature makes them ideally suited for high throughput screening applications where potentially millions of chemical compounds can be analyzed in a given assay. Recent technical advancements that enhance signal stability of the luciferases along with development and commercialization of multiple forms of luciferases, their respective substrates, and improvements in expression vectors for reporter gene assay (RGA) applications have broadened their use. While the practical challenges related to the application of luminescent technology in a laboratory setting have been overcome, there remains much to do in laying a systematic approach towards the construction of RGAs, which are essential to the elucidation of the basic biology for genes of interest. This mini-review aims at giving a birds-eye view of the available luciferases, substrates and other luminescent technologies available and provides a general blueprint as well as practical considerations for constructing and interfacing RGAs with chemical biology and functional genomics for the elucidation of fundamental biological questions and for biomedical research.     

Towards libraries of luminescent lanthanide complexes and labels from generic synthons

A synthetic approach is developed to obtain families of luminescent lanthanide complexes and markers from a generic family of precursors built from nonadentate coordination sites. The syntheses of the precursors, based on a directed regioselective nucleophilic aromatic substitution on polyfluoropyridines, are described. Functionalisation of the synthons on the aromatic moieties allowed the introduction of labelling functions and/or the extension of the electronic delocalisation, with concomitant changes in the spectroscopic properties. The synthesis of two such families of ligands and of some of their complexes of Eu(III) and Tb(III) are described, and the photo-physical properties of the complexes were measured, revealing excellent luminescence quantum yields reaching unity in some cases. For some of these complexes, the emphasis was further put on the preparation of an N-hydroxylsuccinimide (NHS) ester as activated function for labelling. The Tb and La complexes in the NHS activated form were synthesized and fully characterized. The labelling was first demonstrated on amino functionalized polymer beads and characterized by time-resolved luminescence microscopy. In a second step, the activated Tb complex was used for the labelling of GFR44 monoclonal antibody, and was applied to the detection of carcinoembryonic antigene (CEA) within the frame of a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. Comparison with a commercially available kit based on a europium cryptate as energy donor confirms the efficiency of Tb to act as an energy donor with an unoptimised 35% increase of the detection efficiency.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays based on peroxidase labels and enzyme-amplified lanthanide luminescence detection

The enzyme-amplified lanthanide luminescence (EALL) detection is developed and applied for the determination of peroxidase as marker in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The detection scheme is based on the peroxidase catalysed dimerization of 4-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid (pHPPA) and the subsequent formation of a ternary complex with Tb(III)EDTA. Quantum yields and fluorescence lifetimes of the luminescent species are presented to give an estimate of the potential of this procedure. Two different ELISA were performed with the EALL detection scheme. For the first, a model ELISA for the determination of goat anti-rabbit IgG, a limit of determination of 3 micrograms dm-3 (2 fmol) of the antibody could be achieved. As second model assay, a commercial ELISA kit was successfully validated for the new detection scheme. Photometric and EALL detection were in good agreement for the determination of human anti-gliadin IgA in serum.     

Investigation of ion binding in ionic polysaccharide solutions using Tb(III) as a luminescent probe

The luminescence properties of a series of lanthanide-substituted ionic polysaccharides have been examined in an attempt to learn about the nature of interactions between the metalions and the polymers. Emission and excitation spectra were obtained for Tb(III) complexes with carboxymethyl cellulose, Sclerox S-1.0, alginate, polygalacturonic acid, amylose sulfate, dextran sulfate, and i-carrageenan. Studies of the chirality associated with the metal-ion binding sites were performed through the use of circularly polarized luminescence spectroscopy. It was learned that the lanthanide ions could form complexes with polysaccharides in the electrostatic manner of polyelectrolytes, and that specific ligating groups could further influence the metal-ion binding characteristics.     

Advances in anion binding and sensing using luminescent lanthanide complexes

Luminescent lanthanide complexes have been actively studied as selective anion receptors for the past two decades. Ln(iii) complexes, particularly of europium(iii) and terbium(iii), offer unique photophysical properties that are very valuable for anion sensing in biological media, including long luminescence lifetimes (milliseconds) that enable time-gating methods to eliminate background autofluorescence from biomolecules, and line-like emission spectra that allow ratiometric measurements. By careful design of the organic ligand, stable Ln(iii) complexes can be devised for rapid and reversible anion binding, providing a luminescence response that is fast and sensitive, offering the high spatial resolution required for biological imaging applications. This review focuses on recent progress in the development of Ln(iii) receptors that exhibit sufficiently high anion selectivity to be utilised in biological or environmental sensing applications. We evaluate the mechanisms of anion binding and sensing, and the strategies employed to tune anion affinity and selectivity, through variations in the structure and geometry of the ligand. We highlight examples of luminescent Ln(iii) receptors that have been utilised to detect and quantify specific anions in biological media (e.g. human serum), monitor enzyme reactions in real-time, and visualise target anions with high sensitivity in living cells.

This minireview highlights advances in anion binding and sensing using luminescent lanthanide(iii) complexes.     

Lead as its own luminescent sensor

Lead (II) in polar organic solvents such as acetone, acetonitrile, and propylenecarbonate with excess bromide generates the highly luminescent lead-halide cluster Pb(4)Br(11)(3)(-). This in situ sensor does not rely on a host-guest relationship and, thus, is intrinsically selective and sensitive, allowing for the detection of lead at nanomolar concentrations. The cluster's emission maximum and relaxation kinetics are temperature dependent and indicate a close spacing of intralead and intracluster electronic energy levels.     

Silver pyrazolates as coordination-polymer luminescent metallomesogens

Silver pyrazolates with columnar liquid-crystal phases that are stable at room temperature have been prepared by reaction of silver nitrate with 3,5-diarylpyrazolates. The complexes consist of open-chain oligomers, despite the fact that the most common structural type for homoleptic coinage metal pyrazolates is the trimeric metallacycle [M(μ-pz)](3). The special characteristics of silver in forming reversible metal-ligand bonds in solution, evidenced experimentally, leads to supramolecular organizations in which the silver cations promote self-organization of the nonmesomorphic pyrazolates into helical 1D polymers that exhibit columnar mesophases. The materials are readily soluble in common organic solvents and are liquid-crystalline over a broader temperature range than their gold counterparts, which are known to form discrete cyclic trinuclear species. Thin films of the silver complexes show luminescence at room temperature. The compounds described here are the first examples of luminescent metallomesogens formed by a main-chain coordination polymer.     

Lanthanide-doped inorganic nanocrystals as luminescent biolabels

Trivalent lanthanide ions (Ln(3+)) doped inorganic nanocrystals (NCs) have currently attracted reviving interest and come to the forefront in nanophotonics owing to their potential applications in diverse fields such as luminescent biodetection and bioimaging. As an alternative to conventional biolabels, Ln(3+)-doped NCs show superior features including large stokes shift, multicolor fine-tuning, narrow emission band widths, high photostability, and low toxicity. Particularly, the long-lived luminescence and distinct upconversion (UC) of Ln(3+)-doped NCs are desirable for various bioapplications. The long-lived luminescence of Ln(3+) combined with time-resolved technique can efficiently suppress the interference from short-lived background, resulting in a high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and background-free measurements. Near-infrared excited UC emissions of Ln(3+) can bring no autofluorescence and no photodamage to cells or tissues, and thus UC NCs have been regarded as one of the most useful in vivo optical contrast agents. In this review, we outline the most recent development of Ln(3+)-doped NCs as biolabels from the controlled synthesis and surface functionalization of NCs to their bioapplications in heterogeneous and homogeneous biodetection as well as in vitro and in vivo bioimaging.     

Expanding the scope of MS binding assays to low-affinity markers as exemplified for mGAT1

Following a recently developed concept of MS binding assays based on the quantification of a native marker by LC–MS a procedure to study binding of a low-affinity marker in kinetic, saturation, and competition experiments was established. Separation of bound and unbound marker—the most crucial step of the assay—could be effectively achieved by filtration in a 96-well-format. MS binding assays according to this procedure allowed the reliable characterization of NO 711 binding to mGAT1 in presence of physiological NaCl concentrations. Comparing the results obtained in the present study with those from experiments using 1 mol L⁻¹ NaCl in the incubation milieu reveals remarkable differences with respect to the marker’s affinity and kinetics and to the investigated test compound’s potency. Principle of MS binding assays After incubation of a target with a native marker, bound and unbound marker are separated by filtration. Subsequently, the bound native marker is liberated from the target and finally quantified by LC-MS-MS. Dedicated to Prof. Hans-Dietrich Stachel on the occasion of his 80th birthday     

Octadentate cages of Tb(III) 2-hydroxyisophthalamides: a new standard for luminescent lanthanide labels

The synthesis, structure, and photophysical properties of several Tb(III) complexes with octadentate, macrotricyclic ligands that feature a bicapped topology and 2-hydroxyisophthalamide (IAM) chelating units are reported. These Tb(III) complexes exhibit highly efficient emission (Φ(total) ≥ 50%), large extinction coefficients (ε(max) ≥ 20,000 M(-1) cm(-1)), and long luminescence lifetimes (τ(H(2)O) ≥ 2.45 ms) at dilute concentrations in standard biological buffers. The structure of the methyl-protected ligand was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and confirms the macrotricyclic structure of the parent ligand; the amide groups of the methyl-protected cage compound generate an anion binding cavity that complexes a chloride anion. Once the ligand is deprotected, a conformational change generates a similar cavity, formed by the phenolate and ortho amide oxygen groups that strongly bind lanthanide ions. The Tb(III) complexes thus formed display long-term stability, with little if any change in their spectral properties (including lifetime, quantum yield, and emission spectrum) over time or in different chemical environments. Procedures to prepare functionalized derivatives with terminal amine, carboxylate, and N-hydroxysuccinimide groups suitable for derivatization and protein bioconjugation have also been developed. These bifunctional ligands have been covalently attached to a number of different proteins, and the terbium complexes' exceptional photophysical properties are retained. These compounds establish a new aqueous stability and quantum yield standard for long-lifetime lanthanide reporters.     

Dye-doped silica nanoparticles as efficient labels for glycans

We report that dye-doped fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSNPs) are highly efficient labels for glycans. Mono- and oligo-saccharides were conjugated to FSNPs using a general photocoupling chemistry. FSNP-labeled glycans were applied to image and detect bacteria, and to study carbohydrate-lectin interactions on a lectin microarray.     

Lead as own luminescent sensor for determination

In our experiments, it was observed that adding bromide to Pb2+ solution of N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF), the highly emissive cluster Pb4Br11(3-) can be formed and the fluorescence intensity of the formed cluster is proportional to the concentration of Pb2+, based on which, a novel, simple approach that uses the emission from itself as the sensor for determination of Pb2+ is proposed. Under the optimum conditions, the linear range and detection limit is 1.0 x 10(-7) to 1.0 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) (correlation coefficient r = 0.9997) and 7.6 x 10(-9) mol l(-1), respectively. Foreign substrates effects were also investigated. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of lead in the synthetic samples. The mechanism of the reaction is also studied.