Detecting mitochondrial RNA and other cellular events in living cells

Intracellular signaling can be monitored in vivo in living cells by genetically encoded intracellular fluorescent probes. In this review, three aspects of these probes are introduced: 1) the imaging dynamics of endogenous mitochondrial RNA; 2) nuclear receptor and coactivator/corepressor interactions, and; 3) the signal sequence in mitochondrial intermembrane space. These probes are generally applicable to fundamental biological studies as well as for assaying and screening possible pharmaceutical or toxic chemicals that facilitate or inhibit cellular signaling pathways.     

胶束溶液中钙黄绿素-荧光桃红间荧光共振能量转移的研究及应用

研究了钙黄绿素-荧光桃红体系的荧光共振能量转移机理及其在蛋白质测定中的应用.实验表明:在聚乙烯醇存在下,于HAc-NaAc缓冲液(pH 5.30)中,钙黄绿素与荧光桃红之间能发生有效的能量转移.根据Frster理论,探讨了钙黄绿素与荧光桃红分子间能量转移机理.结果表明:蛋白质的加入使钙黄绿素-荧光桃红体系发生荧光猝灭...     

Label-free detection of adenosine based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer between fluorescent silica nanoparticles and unmodified gold nanoparticles

A sensitive and convenient strategy was developed for label-free assay of adenosine. The strategy adapted the fluorescence resonance energy transfer property between Rhodamine B doped fluorescent silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to generate signal. The different affinities of AuNPs toward the unfolded and folded aptamers were employed for the signal transfer in the system. In the presence of adenosine, the split aptamer fragments react with adenosine to form a structured complex. The folded aptamer cannot be adsorbed on the surface of AuNPs, which induces the aggregation of AuNPs under high ionic concentration conditions, and the aggregation of AuNPs leads to the decrease of the quenching ability. Therefore, the fluorescence intensity of Rhodamine B doped fluorescent SiNPs increased along with the concentration of adenosine. Because of the highly specific recognition ability of the aptamer toward adenosine and the strong quenching ability of AuNPs, the proposed strategy demonstrated good selectivity and high sensitivity for the detection of adenosine. Under the optimum conditions in the experiments, a linear range from 98 nM to 100 μM was obtained with a detection limit of 45 nM. As this strategy is convenient, practical and sensitive, it will provide a promising potential for label-free aptamer-based protein detection.     

Fluorescence energy transfer-sensitized photobleaching of a fluorescent label as a tool to study donor-acceptor distance distributions and dynamics in protein assemblies: studies of a complex of biotinylated IgM with streptavidin and aggregates of concanavalin A

A photokinetic method of detection of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between special fluorescent labels is applied to study time-averaged spatial distribution of labeled proteins in protein assemblies. Prolonged irradiation of a sample at the absorption maximum of the energy donor initiates FRET-sensitized fluorescence photobleaching of the energy acceptor label, which was monitored by steady-state fluorimetric measurements. Kinetics of the acceptor photobleaching and kinetics of decreasing the efficiency of FRET from donors to unbleached acceptors were determined. The FRET efficiency was found from measuring sensitization of acceptor fluorescence. Analysis of the photokinetic data permits to estimate the time-averaged distribution of acceptors on donor-acceptor distances in the range of characteristic distances of FRET. Dynamic processes influencing donor-acceptor distances can be also investigated by the method. Application of the method is demonstrated by the studies of a complex of biotinylated IgM with streptavidin and aggregates composed of concanavalin A and sodium dodecyl sulphate. A new thiadicarbocyanine dye was used as the acceptor label. R-phycoerythrin and tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate were the donor labels. In the IgM-streptavidin complex, 16% of acceptors most contributed to FRET provided 90% of FRET efficiency, whereas acceptors made about the same time-averaged contribution to FRET in the concanavalin A aggregates.     

Investigation of the hybrid molecular probe for intracellular studies

Monitoring gene expression in vivo is essential to the advancement of biological studies, medical diagnostics, and drug discovery. Adding to major efforts in developing molecular probes for mRNA monitoring, we have recently developed an alternative tool, the hybrid molecular probe (HMP). To optimize the probe, a series of experiments were performed to study the properties of HMP hybridization kinetics and stability. The results demonstrated the potential of the HMP as a prospective tool for use in both hybridization studies and in vitro and in vivo analyses. The HMP has shown no tendency to produce false positive signals, which is a major concern for living cell studies. Moreover, HMP has shown the ability to detect the mRNA expression of different genes inside single cells from both basal and stimulated genes. As an effective alternative to conventional molecular probes, the proven sensitivity, simplicity, and stability of HMPs show promise for their use in monitoring mRNA expression in living cells. Figure Hybrid molecular probe (HMP). HMPs consist of two single strands of DNA (green) and a polyethylene glycol (PEG, purple) linker that is used to tether these two sequences together. When a target (orange strand) containing the complementary sequences to both probes at adjacent positions is added, each strand binds to its corresponding target sequence, thus bringing the two fluorophores into close proximity, which allows energy transfer to occur     

Rational Design of Ratiometric Fe3+ Fluorescent Probes Based on FRET Mechanism

As the most abundant transition metal element in mammals, iron(Fe) plays a vital role in life activities. It is of great significance to study the variation of Fe³⁺ level in living organisms. In virtue of the advantages of high sensitivity, good selectivity and low damage to living systems, the fluorescence detection of Fe³⁺ has attracted much attention. Compared with the intensity-based fluorescent probe, the ratiometric fluorescent probe has less interference of environmental and can realize quantitative detection. In this study, four ratiometric Fe³⁺ fluorescent probes, R1, R2, R3 and R4_, were designed and synthesized using fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET) mechanism to achieve quantitative detection of Fe³⁺. In the FRET systems, 1,8-naphthalimide fluorophore derivatives were adopted as donors while rhodamine B derivatives were selected as receptors. The connection sites of the donor and acceptor in R3 and R4 are different from those in R1 and R2. All the four probes showed good response and selectivity to Fe³⁺. The energy transfer efficiencies of R3 and R4 were obviously higher than those of R1 and R2. This work provided a promising strategy for the development of fluorescent ratiometic Fe³⁺sensors.     

Fabricating UCNPs-AuNPs Fluorescent Probe for Sensitive Sensing Thiamphenicol

Anovel fluorescent probe has been constructed based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET) between upconversion nanomaterials(UCNPs) NaYF₄:Yb,Er and gold nanoparticles(AuNPs). The fluorescent "off-on" switching was formed for the detection of thiamphenicol(TAP) in egg samples. The fluorescence of UCNPs can be quenched to a certain degree by AuNPs. After adding TAP, the AuNPs generated aggregation and the fluorescence of UCNPs was recovered. The synthesized amination UCNPs and AuNPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), UV-Vis, X-ray diffraction(XRD), energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS), and transmission electron microscope(TEM) techniques for observation and confirmation. As a model target, the detection of TAP has two linear ranges in the buffer solution within 0.01-0.1 μmol/L and 0.1-1 μmol/L using this fluorescent probe. The detection limit was obtained to be 0.003 μmol/L(S/N=3), which is favorable for trace analysis. The recovery of TAP from 98.2% to 105.3% was obtained, and the relative standard deviation(RSD) was from 2.5% to 4.3%. Furthermore, the method established in this study based on the UCNPs auto-low background fluorescence has high selectivity and strong ability to eliminate interference, which is beneficial to analyzing complex samples.     

Study on molecular interactions between proteins on live cell membranes using quantum dot-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer

Mouse anti-human CD71 monoclonal antibody (anti-CD71) was conjugated with red quantum dots (QDs; 5.3 nm, emission wavelength λ _em = 614 nm) and used to label HeLa cells successfully. Then green QD-labeled goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG; the size of the green QDs was 2.2 nm; λ _em = 544 nm) was added to bind the red-QD-conjugated anti-CD71 on the cell surface by immunoreactions. Such interaction between anti-CD71 and IgG lasted 4 min and was observed from the fluorescence spectra: the fluorescence intensity of the “red” peak at 614 nm increased by 32%; meanwhile that of the “green” one at 544 nm decreased by 55%. The ratio of the fluorescence intensities (I _544 nm/I _614 nm) decreased from 0.5 to 0.2. The fluorescence spectra as well as cell imaging showed that fluorescence resonance energy transfer took place between these two kinds of QDs on the HeLa cells through interactions between the primary antibody and the secondary antibody.     

智能型金纳米棒荧光探针的制备及其肿瘤细胞成像研究

开发能特异和灵敏检测基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)的智能型荧光分子探针,对于癌症的早期精准诊断与治疗至关重要。本文基于MMP-2特异性识别的多肽底物,利用一价铜离子催化的"点击"化学反应将荧光素(FITC)和多肽底物GPLGVRGY相偶联,与SH-PEG-COOH修饰的金纳米棒在EDC和Sulfo-NHS的作用下通过酰胺化反应,制备得到一种新的MMP-2特异性响应的荧光共振能量转移(FRET)金纳米棒探针GNR@FITC。体外重组酶检测实验、MTT实验及细胞共聚焦显微成像结果表明,该探针对MMP-2过表达小鼠乳腺癌细胞4T1表现出较好的特异性和检测灵敏度,具有进一步开发应用于乳腺癌早期诊断的极大潜力。     

Synthesis and characterization of anthracene-clustering dendrimers: observation of fluorescence resonance energy transfer in the multichromophoric system

A series of anthracene-clustering dendrimers bearing various aliphatic substituents at the terminal positions were synthesized using a direct coupling strategy. A remarkable effect of the side chains was imparted to chemical properties of the dendrimers such as drastically increased solubility. Although the multibranched anthracene arrays in the dendritic architectures exhibited no cooperativity in terms of the absorption feature and behaved as single chromophoric systems, investigations focusing on fluorescence properties revealed that a type of cooperativity was present as expressed in the reduced quantum yields of fluorescence. An alternative approach utilizing time-resolved fluorescence decay measurements clearly demonstrated that the most reasonable mechanism of the cooperative action should involve two discernible channels of intramolecular fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurring from one chromophore to the others within and across junctions of the branching units.     

Highly selective two-photon fluorescent probe for imaging of nitric oxide in living cells简

A new two-photon fluorescent probe, ADNO, for nitric oxide （NO） based on intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer （PET） mechanism d/splays a rapid response to NO with a remarkable fluorescent enhancement in PBS buffer. The excellent chemoselectivity of ADNO for NO over other ROS/RNS （reactive oxygen species or nitrogen species） and common metal ions was observed. Moreover, ADNO has been successfully applied in fluorescence imaging of NO of living cells using both one-photon microscopy （OPM） and two-~hoton microscopy （TPM）,     

Fast and sensitive DNA analysis using changes in the FRET signals of molecular beacons in a PDMS microfluidic channel

A new DNA hybridization analytical method using a microfluidic channel and a molecular beacon-based probe (MB-probe) is described. A stem-loop DNA oligonucleotide labeled with two fluorophores at the 5′ and 3′ termini (a donor dye, TET, and an acceptor dye, TAMRA, respectively) was used to carry out a fast and sensitive DNA analysis. The MB-probe utilized the specificity and selectivity of the DNA hairpin-type probe DNA to detect a specific target DNA of interest. The quenching of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) signal between the two fluorophores, caused by the sequence-specific hybridization of the MB-probe and the target DNA, was used to detect a DNA hybridization reaction in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic channel. The azoospermia gene, DYS 209, was used as the target DNA to demonstrate the applicability of the method. A simple syringe pumping system was used for quick and accurate analysis. The laminar flow along the channel could be easily controlled by the 3-D channel structure and flow speed. By injecting the MB-probe and target DNA solutions into a zigzag-shaped PDMS microfluidic channel, it was possible to detect their sequence-specific hybridization. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was also used to provide complementary evidence of the DNA hybridization. Our data show that this technique is a promising real-time detection method for label-free DNA targets in the solution phase. Figure FRET-based DNA hybridization detection using a molecular beacon in a zigzag-shaped PDMS microfluidic channel     

基于温敏性有机/无机杂化纳米粒子的比率型Hg~(2+)荧光探针

基于有机/无机杂化纳米粒子制备了能够对汞离子(Hg~(2+))进行比率型检测的荧光探针.首先通过连续的可逆加成-断裂链转移(RAFT)聚合合成了两亲性嵌段聚合物,P(MPS-co-NBDAE)-b-P(NIPAM-co-Rh BHA).其疏水嵌段为带有三甲基硅氧烷侧基,并标记有荧光能量给体N-(7-硝基-2,1,3-苯并噁二唑)(NBD)基元的聚丙烯酸酯,P(MPS-co-NBDAE);亲水嵌段为共聚有潜在荧光能量受体罗丹明脲衍生物单体(Rh BHA)的温敏性聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺),P(NIPAM-co-Rh BHA).由该嵌段聚合物自组装形成的胶束在三乙胺催化作用下水解发生溶胶-凝胶化过程后,得到核交联的有机/无机杂化纳米粒子.在没有Hg~(2+)离子存在时,该杂化纳米粒子溶液只显示出NBD基元发射的绿光;而在有Hg~(2+)离子存在条件下,Hg~(2+)离子可诱导Rh BHA开环为具有荧光发射性能的Rh B基元.由于NBD与Rh B之间的荧光共振能量转移(FRET)效应,杂化纳米粒子溶液的颜色和荧光发射性能均会发生明显的变化,从而实现对水溶液中Hg~(2+)离子的高效选择性检测.而且,升高温度会导致纳米粒子壳层PNIPAM嵌段的塌缩,使NBD和Rh B基元间的空间距离缩短,可进一步提高检测效果.因此,基于该有机/无机杂化纳米粒子的检测体系可用来对Hg~(2+)离子进行高效选择性检测.     

Fast-response fluorescent probe with favorable water solubility for highly sensitive imaging of endogenous tyrosinase in living cells and zebrafish model

Tyrosinase (TYR) is an important polyphenolic oxidase enzyme and usually regards as a biomarker of melanoma cancer. Highly effective tracking TYR activity in vivo will help to study the mechanism of TYR in living organisms and forecasts related diseases. In this study, we present a novel TYR-activatable fluorescent probe (CHMC-DOPA) for tracking TYR activity in vitro and in vivo. CHMC-DOPA is constructed by incorporating dopamine (DOPA) moiety into a fluorescent chloro-hydroxyl-merocyanine (CHMC) scaffold. Upon exposure to TYR, the dopamine unit in CHMC-DOPA is oxidized to a dopaquinone derivative, and an intramolecular photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process between CHMC fluorophore and o-dopaquinone will take place, the fluorescence of CHMC-DOPA is quenched rapidly. Therefore, the evaluation of TYR activity is established in terms of the relationship between fluorescence quenching efficiency and TYR activity. In our experiments, CHMC-DOPA shows various advantages, such as fast response (8?min), low concentration of TYR activation (0.5 U/mL), good water-solubility, as well as the lowest detection limit (0.003 U/mL) compared with previously reported works. Furthermore, CHMC-DOPA also exhibits excellent cell membrane permeability and low cytotoxicity, which is successfully used to monitor endogenous TYR activity in living cancer cells and zebrafish models. CHMC-DOPA performs well, and we anticipate that this newly designed novel platform will provide an alternative for high effective monitoring TYR activity in biosystems.     

Homogeneous single-label tyrosine kinase activity assay for high throughput screening

Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) are regulatory mechanisms carried out by different enzymes in a cell. Kinase catalyzed phosphorylation is one of the most important PTM affecting the protein activity and function. We have developed a single-label quenching resonance energy transfer (QRET) assay to monitor tyrosine phosphorylation in a homogeneous high throughput compatible format. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) induced phosphorylation was monitored using Eu³⁺-chelate labeled peptide and label-free phosphotyrosine specific antibody in presence of a soluble quencher molecule. In the QRET kinase assay, antibody binding to phosphorylated Eu³⁺-peptide protects the Eu³⁺-chelate from luminescence quenching, monitoring high time-resolved luminescence (TRL) signals. In the presence of specific kinase inhibitor, antibody recognition and Eu³⁺-chelate protection is prevented, allowing an efficient luminescence quenching. The assay functionality was demonstrated with a panel of EGFR inhibitors (AG-1478, compound 56, erlotinib, PD174265, and staurosporine). The monitored IC₅₀ values ranged from 0.08 to 155.3 nM and were comparable to those found in the literature. EGFR activity and inhibition assays were performed using low nanomolar enzyme and antibody concentration in a 384-well plate format, demonstrating its compatibility for high throughput screening (HTS).     

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer in doubly-quantum dot labeled IgG system

The mouse immunoglobulin G (mouse IgG) as a kind of bio-molecule was labeled with two different luminescent colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), green-emitting CdTe quantum dots and red-emitting CdTe quantum dots in this work. As a result of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the two different sizes nanoparticles with mouse IgG as the binding bridge, a significant enhancement of the emission of the red-emitting CdTe quantum dots and the corresponding quenching of the emission of green-emitting CdTe quantum dots were observed. The relationship between the concentration of the mouse immunoglobulin G and the fluorescence intensity ratio (I_a/I_d) of acceptors and donors was studied also. Under optimal conditions, the calibration graph is linear over the range of 0.1–20.0 mg/L mouse IgG.     

用于单分子动力学实验的微流控混合器

设计制作了用于单分子动力学实验的微流控混合器, 该混合器用聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS)芯片和石英载玻片密封而成, 具有低的荧光背景, 广泛的生物相容性, 结合激光共聚焦显微镜能够在非平衡态下进行单分子荧光探测. 我们设计的压力控制系统和进样流路方便而稳定, 保证了微流路中流形的长时间稳定, 从而实现了样品流速和流量的精准控制. 这些技术特点保证了单分子探测得到准确和高信噪比的结果. 利用蛋白质的塌缩过程远快于混合过程的特点,采用荧光标记的金黄色葡萄球菌核酸酶作为指示物,分辨出蛋白质变性态的特征峰,并利用变性态的荧光共振能量传递效率随时间的变化表征出混合器在适合于单分子探测条件下的混合时间为150 ms.     

基于CdTe量子点荧光猝灭法测定水体中结晶紫

以巯基乙酸为稳定剂,用水热法合成CdTe量子点(QDs),基于结晶紫对CdTe QDs的荧光猝灭作用,建立一种新的测定结晶紫含量的新方法。在优化实验条件下,结晶紫浓度在1.0~10.0μmol·L-1范围内与CdTe QDs的荧光猝灭程度呈良好的线性关系,相关系数r=0.9986,检出限为0.026μmol·L-1。该方法用于水样中结晶紫含量的测定,加标回收率为96.2%~103.1%。同时,对结晶紫和CdTe QDs之间的反应机理进行探讨,发现CdTe QDs的发射光谱与结晶紫的吸收光谱能够有效重叠,且二者通过静电作用结合,可建立以CdTe QDs为供体,结晶紫为受体的荧光共振能量转移体系。