Cysteine‐Mediated Intracellular Building of Luciferin to Enhance Probe Retention and Fluorescence Turn‐On

The development of sensitive and selective small molecular probes that enable real‐time detection of endogenous cysteine (Cys) has become an attractive topic because of the essential roles played by Cys in controlling the cellular nitrogen balance and in maintaining biological redox homeostasis. Herein, we report a Cys‐specific probe, 2‐cyanobenzothiazol‐6‐yl acrylate (CBTOA), that shows not only fluorescence turn‐on for sensitive detection of endogenous Cys but also enhanced probe retention inside cells for real‐time monitoring of Cys levels upon external stimulation. Cys‐mediated intracellular formation of luciferin from CBTOA was the key strategy leading to this new type of fluorogenic probe. CBTOA showed fast response to Cys in living cells and liver tissue slices with high sensitivity and selectivity. By using CBTOA as a real‐time probe, we were able to monitor the change in Cys levels in living HeLa cells under ROS‐induced oxidative stress as well as in human mesenchymal stem cells during adipogenic differentiation.     

荧光/化学发光探针成像检测超氧阴离子自由基的研究进展

超氧阴离子自由基(O·-2)是细胞内氧气单电子还原后最先产生的一类含氧的高活性物种(活性氧,ROS),与生命过程息息相关.正常稳态浓度的O·-2起重要的信号调控作用,包括细胞的增殖、分化、自噬等.但O·-2浓度的异常,又与癌症、神经退行性疾病、糖尿病等多种疾病的发生发展密切相关.因此,监测O·-2浓度的变化对揭示相关疾病的机理具有至关重要作用.由于荧光成像检测方法具有诸多优势,发展高灵敏、高选择性检测O·-2的荧光探针成为揭示相关疾病发生发展分子机制的关键切入点.近年来,随着荧光显微技术的发展,研究者开发了多种荧光/化学发光探针,实现了对细胞及活体内O·-2水平的可视化监测.本文综述了近五年用于检测O·-2的分子探针、纳米探针、蛋白探针以及化学发光探针的研究进展,并对其发展前景进行了展望.     

Reversible fluorescent probes for chemical and biological redox process

In this review, we discuss the recent progress of reversible fl uorescent probes for chemical and biological redox process according to different active centers.     

Simultaneous determination of reduced and oxidized glutathione in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes by HPLC with electrochemical detection

Glutathione and glutathione disulphide constitute an essential thiol redox system present in the cell. The balance in favour of the latter is an indication of oxidative stress. Glutathione and glutathione disulphide quantification in isolated cells may therefore be essential for the evaluation of mechanistic and comparative studies of toxic xenobiotics. In this study, a rapid and sensitive isocratic reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method using coulometric detection was implemented for the simultaneous detection of glutathione and glutathione disulphide, in freshly isolated hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes of the rat. The method implemented proved to be effective for the measurement of glutathione and glutathione disulphide in control conditions and for the detection of variations in this redox system, induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide. tert-Butylhydroperoxide is an organic peroxide, which has been used as a model molecule for inducing oxidative stress in isolated cells. A comparative study with a previously published HPLC-electrochemical detection method was performed.     

蛋氨酸亚砜/蛋氨酸亚砜还原酶荧光检测研究进展

蛋白质蛋氨酸亚砜化是一种重要的氧化还原依赖的蛋白质翻译后修饰,不仅是氧化应激的重要标志物之一,也是一种蛋白质功能调控开关可影响活性氧信号转导,与一系列疾病尤其是神经退行性疾病的发生发展密切相关。 在许多生物体中,蛋氨酸亚砜还原酶是目前已经发现的唯一能将蛋白质蛋氨酸亚砜还原为蛋氨酸的物质,可以修复氧化损伤蛋白,恢复蛋白质功能,调控细胞氧还平衡,对相关疾病的治疗具有非常重要的意义。 本文重点介绍蛋氨酸亚砜和蛋氨酸亚砜还原酶的结构和催化机理,综述蛋氨酸亚砜和蛋氨酸亚砜还原酶荧光探针的部分研究进展,对该领域的研究前景进行展望。     

Fluorescent Probes with Multiple Binding Sites for the Discrimination of Cys,Hcy, and GSH

Biothiols such as cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and glutathione (GSH) play crucial roles in maintaining redox homeostasis in biological systems. This Minireview summarizes the most significant current challenges in the field of thiol‐reactive probes for biomedical research and diagnostics, emphasizing the needs and opportunities that have been under‐investigated by chemists in the selective probe and sensor field. Progress on multiple binding site probes to distinguish Cys, Hcy, and GSH is highlighted as a creative new direction in the field that can enable simultaneous, accurate ratiometric monitoring. New probe design strategies and researcher priorities can better help address current challenges, including the monitoring of disease states such as autism and chronic diseases involving oxidative stress that are characterized by divergent levels of GSH, Cys, and Hcy.     

Anodic electron transfer mechanisms in microbial fuel cells and their energy efficiency

The performance of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) depends on a complex system of parameters. Apart from technical variables like the anode or fuel cell design, it is mainly the paths and mechanisms of the bioelectrochemical energy conversion that decisively determine the MFC power and energy output. Here, the electron transfer from the microbial cell to the fuel cell anode, as a process that links microbiology and electrochemistry, represents a key factor that defines the theoretical limits of the energy conversion. The determination of the energy efficiency of the electron transfer reactions, based on the biological standard potentials of the involved redox species in combination with the known paths (and stoichiometry) of the underlying microbial metabolism, is an important instrument for this discussion. Against the sometimes confusing classifications of MFCs in literature it is demonstrated that the anodic electron transfer is always based on one and the same background: the exploitation of the necessity of every living cell to dispose the electrons liberated during oxidative substrate degradation.     

Fluorescent probes for in vitro and in vivo quantification of hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) plays essential roles in redox signaling and oxidative stress, and its dynamic concentration is critical to human health and diseases. Here we report the design, syntheses, and biological applications of HKPerox-Red and HKPerox-Ratio for quantitative measurement of H₂O₂. Both probes were successfully applied to detect endogenous H₂O₂ fluxes in living cells or zebrafish, and biological effects of multiple stress inducers including rotenone, arsenic trioxide, and starvation were investigated. As H₂O₂ is a common by-product for oxidase oxidation, a general assay was developed for ultrasensitive detection of various metabolites (glucose, uric acid, and sarcosine). Moreover, cellular H₂O₂ measurements were achieved for the first time by combining flow cytometry with live cell calibration. This study provides a pair of unique molecular tools for advanced H₂O₂ bio-imaging and assay development.

New class of H₂O₂ probes, HKPerox-Red and HKPerox-Ratio, were developed for quantitative measurement of H₂O₂ generated in multiple disease models using bio-imaging, flow cytometry, and in vitro assays in an ultra-sensitive and selective manner.     

Synthesis of C-9 oxidised N-acetylneuraminic acid derivatives as biological probes

Sialic acids are 9-carbon acidic sugars involved in a number of important biological processes and human diseases. As part of our ongoing interest in the development of novel sialic acids as biological probes, we have developed an efficient and simple synthesis of C-9 oxidised sialic acid derivatives. The key oxidative step involves the use of TEMPO under carefully controlled aqueous pH conditions.     

Two-photon fluorescence microscopy imaging of cellular oxidative stress using profluorescent nitroxides

A range of varying chromophore nitroxide free radicals and their nonradical methoxyamine analogues were synthesized and their linear photophysical properties examined. The presence of the proximate free radical masks the chromophore's usual fluorescence emission, and these species are described as profluorescent. Two nitroxides incorporating anthracene and fluorescein chromophores (compounds 7 and 19, respectively) exhibited two-photon absorption (2PA) cross sections of approximately 400 G.M. when excited at wavelengths greater than 800 nm. Both of these profluorescent nitroxides demonstrated low cytotoxicity toward Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Imaging colocalization experiments with the commercially available CellROX Deep Red oxidative stress monitor demonstrated good cellular uptake of the nitroxide probes. Sensitivity of the nitroxide probes to H(2)O(2)-induced damage was also demonstrated by both one- and two-photon fluorescence microscopy. These profluorescent nitroxide probes are potentially powerful tools for imaging oxidative stress in biological systems, and they essentially "light up" in the presence of certain species generated from oxidative stress. The high ratio of the fluorescence quantum yield between the profluorescent nitroxide species and their nonradical adducts provides the sensitivity required for measuring a range of cellular redox environments. Furthermore, their reasonable 2PA cross sections provide for the option of using two-photon fluorescence microscopy, which circumvents commonly encountered disadvantages associated with one-photon imaging such as photobleaching and poor tissue penetration.     

Multivalent Sialosides: A Tool to Explore the Role of Sialic Acids in Biological Processes

Sialic acids (Sias) are fascinating nine‐carbon monosaccharides that are primarily found on the terminus of the oligosaccharide chains of glycoproteins and glycolipids on cell surfaces. These Sias undergo a variety of structural modifications at their hydroxy and amine positions, thereby resulting in structural diversity and, hence, coordinating a variety of biological processes. However, deciphering the structural functions of such interactions is highly challenging, because the monovalent binding of Sias is extremely weak. Over the last decade, several multivalent Sia ligands have been synthesized to modulate their binding affinity with proteins/lectins. In this Minireview, we highlight recent developments in the synthesis of multivalent Sia probes and their potential applications. We will discuss four key multivalent families, that is, polymers, dendrimers, liposomes, and nanoparticles, and will emphasize the major parameters that are essential for the specific interactions of these molecules with proteins in biological systems.     

Proteomics-Based Discovery of First-in-Class Chemical Probes for Programmed Cell Death Protein 2 (PDCD2)

Chemical probes are essential tools for understanding biological systems and for credentialing potential biomedical targets. Programmed cell death 2 (PDCD2) is a member of the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins, which are critical regulators of apoptosis. Here we report the discovery and characterization of 10 e , a first-in-class small molecule degrader of PDCD2. We discovered this PDCD2 degrader by serendipity using a chemical proteomics approach, in contrast to the conventional approach for making bivalent degraders starting from a known binding ligand targeting the protein of interest. Using 10 e as a pharmacological probe, we demonstrate that PDCD2 functions as a critical regulator of cell growth by modulating the progression of the cell cycle in T lymphoblasts. Our work provides a useful pharmacological probe for investigating PDCD2 function and highlights the use of chemical proteomics to discover selective small molecule degraders of unanticipated targets.     

Multi‐Level Logic Gate Operation Based on Amplified Aptasensor Performance

Conventional electronic circuits can perform multi‐level logic operations; however, this capability is rarely realized by biological logic gates. In addition, the question of how to close the gap between biomolecular computation and silicon‐based electrical circuitry is still a key issue in the bioelectronics field. Here we explore a novel split aptamer‐based multi‐level logic gate built from INHIBIT and AND gates that performs a net XOR analysis, with electrochemical signal as output. Based on the aptamer–target interaction and a novel concept of electrochemical rectification, a relayed charge transfer occurs upon target binding between aptamer‐linked redox probes and solution‐phase probes, which amplifies the sensor signal and facilitates a straightforward and reliable diagnosis. This work reveals a new route for the design of bioelectronic logic circuits that can realize multi‐level logic operation, which has the potential to simplify an otherwise complex diagnosis to a “yes” or “no” decision.     

Theoretical estimation of redox potential of biological quinone cofactors

Redox potentials are essential to understand biological cofactor reactivity and to predict their behavior in biological media. Experimental determination of redox potential in biological system is often difficult due to complexity of biological media but computational approaches can be used to estimate them. Nevertheless, the quality of the computational methodology remains a key issue to validate the results. Instead of looking to the best absolute results, we present here the calibration of theoretical redox potential for quinone derivatives in water coupling QM + MM or QM/MM scheme. Our approach allows using low computational cost theoretical level, ideal for long simulations in biological systems, and determination of the uncertainties linked to the calculations. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

DNA-arrays with electrical detection: a label-free low cost technology for routine use in life sciences and diagnostics

Fast and highly parallel DNA analysis are essential for improved biomedical research and development. Currently fluorescence-based methods are state of the art in DNA microarray analysis. The necessity to modify the target DNA with labels is costly, laborious and requires skilled personnel. Moreover, false positive calls from unspecific adsorption are possible and it is difficult to discriminate perfect matching target sequences from those with a single mismatch. In this paper a new and simple electrochemical approach for hybridisation detection without the need of labelling the target DNA is described. The EDDA (Electrically Detected Displacement Assay) method uses a solution of short redox-labelled signalling oligonucleotides (oligonucleotides carrying a covalently attached redox active compound like ferrocene) to characterize the hybridisation state of label-free capture probe DNA immobilised on gold electrodes. The number of capture probes associated with signalling oligonucleotides is determined by chronocoulometry. This technique allows to separate the electrochemical response of capture probe associated signal probes from the response of freely diffusing signalling probes. In the absence of the complementary target sequences the redox-labelled signalling probes at the surface give rise to an instantaneous increase of the detection signal, while freely diffusing signalling probes show a significantly delayed response. Hybridisation with targets complementary to the capture probe displace the loosely associated signalling probes thereby decreasing the instantaneous signal. Besides an introduction to the EDDA technology, data validating the method for biological material will be presented and an outlook to the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is given.     

均相催化氧化中的活性中间体多样性

过渡金属离子在各种化学及生物氧化中扮演着极为重要的作用,现有的研究表明参与催化氧化的关键活性物种已不再局限于金属氧物种(Mn+O),金属氢氧物种(Mn+—OH)与金属过氧物种(Mn+—OOH)均被发现能够参与各种氧化反应。有些有机化合物也能直接催化有机物的氧化反应,同时,相似的有机物如NADH和辅酶Q一直在生物代谢中发挥着重要作用。但是,现有的研究结果还难以清楚解释生物体系中各种氧化酶在不同的氧化反应中选择特定活性物种的内在原因。因此,了解这些活性物种之间的氧化性能异同性将非常有助于了解酶对它们的选择,进而理解酶的催化氧化机理,为药物设计提供理论基础,同时也有助于设计新的氧化催化剂。本文对在各种均相催化氧化及生物氧化反应中出现的主要活性中间体种类、各中间体的反应性能、反应机理进行了总结,并就现有的实验数据对过渡金属氧物种与氢氧物种的氧化性能相似性及相异性进行了初步评述。     

Oxidative Stress in Down and Williams-Beuren Syndromes: An Overview

Oxidative stress is the result of an imbalance in the redox state in a cell or a tissue. When the production of free radicals, which are physiologically essential for signaling, exceeds the antioxidant capability, pathological outcomes including oxidative damage to macromolecules, aberrant signaling, and inflammation can occur. Down syndrome (DS) and Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) are well-known and common genetic conditions with multi-systemic involvement. Their etiology is linked to oxidative stress with important causative genes, such as SOD-1 and NCF-1, respectively, of the diseases being primarily involved in the regulation of the redox state. Early aging, dementia, autoimmunity, and chronic inflammation are some of the main characteristics of these conditions that can be associated with oxidative stress. In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in the possible role of oxidative stress and inflammation in the pathology of these conditions. However, at present, few studies have investigated these correlations. We provide an overview of the current literature concerning the role of oxidative stress and oxidative damage in genetic syndromes with a focus on Down syndrome and WBS. We hope to provide new insights to improve the management of complications related to these diseases.     

氧化还原可逆荧光探针的研究及其在细胞成像中的应用进展

细胞氧化还原可逆状态的动态变化可以提供丰富的生理、病理信息,因此可以瞬时、动态检测细胞氧化还原状态变化的分析方法越来越受到人们的关注.基于荧光探针的荧光分析法因其直观、简便、可原位操作、信息丰富等特点,近年来在氧化还原分析等研究方面得到了较为广泛的应用.本文对近年来氧化还原可逆荧光探针研究及其在细胞成像中的应用进展进行了评述,并对其发展前景进行了展望.引用文献54篇.     

Electroanalytical Study of Macluraxanthone: A Natural Product with a Strong Antioxidant and Antimalarial Activity

The electrochemical behaviour of macluraxanthone (McX), a natural compound with significant antioxidant and anti‐malarial properties, is reported here for the first time. The anodic behaviour of McX is related with its chemical reducing power, and both redox properties are compared with the ones of osajaxanthone (OjX), a similar molecule with non‐antioxidant activity. Based on cyclic voltammetric technique, it was observed that the electrooxidation of McX at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is quasireversible and pH dependent, occurring easily at pH ≥ 7. The anodic behaviour of McX correlates well with its antioxidant/reducing activity (evaluated by the DPPH method), being both redox processes attributed to the oxidation of the catechol moiety of McX. The electron transfer processes between the catechol/o‐quinone redox function of McX and the GCE are simultaneously diffusion‐ and adsorption‐controlled and blocked by the adsorption of some inactive products. The achieved results are very useful for understanding and predicting the oxidative behaviour of other xanthones with biological properties. The main anodic process of McX at GCE yields a well‐defined and sensitive DPV response, which can be easily used for the analytical determination of this natural xanthone in real samples, namely in physiological infusions to be used in biological and clinical trials.     

Generation of redox systems by fiber materials on the reduction of vat and sulfur dyes: Research and practical implementation

An essential part of the processes of refinement of textile materials from natural cellulose fiber is based on redox reactions of the components of process solutions both with admixtures in the fiber and with cellulose. The reducing agents involved in these processes are used in the alkaline treatment of textile materials as antioxidants whose function is to prevent oxidative destruction of cellulose; reducing agents are also introduced into vat or sulfur dye compositions to convert these insoluble dyes into soluble leuco compounds.