Determination of hydrophobicity of albumins and other proteins using a near-infrared probe

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) is used to investigate the hydrophobicity of binding sites on mammalian serum albumins. The binding sites on albumins are probed using an NIR dye which showed significant changes in its NIR absorption spectra depending on the hydrophobicity of solvent in an earlier study. The notable differences observed in the NIR spectra of this dye indicate that the hydrophobicity of the microenvironment around the binding site may be determined using this probe. The absorption spectra of this NIR dye show two distinct maxima dependent upon the hydrophobicity of the environment. The intensity of these peaks was used for determining hydrophobicity. The hydrophobicity of the binding site was also evaluated by small additions of isopropyl alcohol to change the bulk solvent hydrophobicity. NIR measurements confirm that the microenvironment of the dye binding area is relatively hydrophobic. This NIR method is suitable for the determination of the hydrophobicity of soluble proteins.     

光谱法研究噻菁染料与血清蛋白的相互作用

本文通过吸收和荧光光谱法研究了一种噻菁染料与人血清蛋白及牛血清蛋白的相互作用。吸收光谱数据表明,与血清蛋白结合后,噻菁染料单体的吸收峰发生红移,同时强度也有很大变化;还通过吸收光谱计算确定了噻菁染料与血清蛋白的结合位点数（ n ）。与人血清蛋白或牛血清蛋白结合后,噻菁染料的荧光量子产率增加。分析噻菁染料的荧光强度随溶液中血清蛋白浓度的变化得到了二者反应的表观结合常数（ K _a）和自由能变化（ ΔG ）。根据表观结合常数（ K _a）可以判断,人血清蛋白比牛血清蛋白与噻菁染料的结合更强。     

Ratiometric analysis of fluorescence lifetime for probing binding sites in albumin with near-infrared fluorescent molecular probes

A number of diseases have been linked to abnormal conformation of albumin, a major extracellular protein in blood. Current protein structural analysis requires pure isolated samples, thereby limiting their use for albumin analysis in blood. In this study, we report a new approach for high-throughput structure-related analysis of albumin by using the fluorescence lifetime properties of near-infrared (NIR) polymethine dyes. Based on molecular modeling, polymethine dyes are bound to two binding sites with different polarities on albumin. As a result, an NIR molecular probe exhibits two distinct lifetimes with two corresponding fluorescent fractional contributions. The distribution of fractional contributions along with individual fluorescence lifetimes represents unique parameters for characterizing albumin architecture by ratiometric analysis. After screening a small library of NIR polymethine dyes, we identified and used a polymethine dye with optimal fluorescence lifetime properties to assess structure-related differences in commercially available bovine serum albumin as model systems. The results show that changes in the lifetime of NIR dyes reflect the perturbation of the tertiary structures of albumin and that albumin prepared by different methods has slightly altered tertiary structures. Because of the reduced absorption of light by blood in the NIR region, the method developed can be used to determine structural changes in albumin in whole blood without prior isolation of the pure protein.     

Comparative studies on biophysical interactions between 4-dicyanomethylene-2,6-dimethyl-4H-pyran (DDP) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) via photophysical approaches and molecular docking techniques

Photophysical studies of 4-Dicyanomethylene-2,6-Dimethyl-4H-Pyran (DDP) dye with globular proteins, Human Serum Albumin (HSA) and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) were carried out in aqueous solution. An isosbestic point resulted on the addition of serum albumins, which signifies a complex or an equilibrium state of DDP dye with albumin. Addition of BSA to DDP dye results in a fluorescence enhancement accompanied with a significant hypsochromic shift, whereas with that of HSA, a fluorescence quenching with a considerable blue shift resulted. Excited state studies of DDP dye with serum albumins portray that the role of binding sites of dye with albumins vary considerably and the nature of interaction is presumably attributed to combined hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Molecular docking studies of DDP dye with albumins and two other derivatives 4-(Dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran (DCM) dye and 4-(Dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-t-buyl)-4H-pyran (DCT) dyes with BSA and HSA elucidates that the hydrogen-bonding interaction accompanied with several hydrophobic, pi–pi an pi–alkyl interactions coexist between dye and albumins. The binding energy, intermolecular energy and stability of the DDP, DCM and DCT dyes through docking techniques with albumins authenticate that the dye predominantly acts as hydrogen-bonding acceptor site and the protein molecule as the donor. DDP dye prefers to exist in four different binding sites of HSA, whereas, in the case of BSA, the most preferred site is found to be hydrophobic domain (site I). Interestingly, the most preferred site of DCT dye is III A subdomain of HSA, whereas DCM dye is oriented towards I B subdomain. DDP and DCT are smaller in size and reside in the domain preferred for smaller ligands (II A and IIIA) as resulted in several drugs-HSA interaction whereas DCM dye which is categorized as medium to larger ligand based on the extended structure resides in the most favoured site IB. Fluorescence techniques in combination with molecular docking methods elucidate binding characteristics and the domain in which the dye resides in a micro heterogeneous environment is established in this study.     

Phosphorescent sensitized fluorescent solid-state near-infrared light-emitting electrochemical cells

We report phosphorescent sensitized fluorescent near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) utilizing a phosphorescent cationic transition metal complex [Ir(ppy)(2)(dasb)](+)(PF(6)(-)) (where ppy is 2-phenylpyridine and dasb is 4,5-diaza-9,9'-spirobifluorene) as the host and two fluorescent ionic NIR emitting dyes 3,3'-diethyl-2,2'-oxathiacarbocyanine iodide (DOTCI) and 3,3'-diethylthiatricarbocyanine iodide (DTTCI) as the guests. Photoluminescence measurements show that the host-guest films containing low guest concentrations effectively quench host emission due to efficient host-guest energy transfer. Electroluminescence (EL) measurements reveal that the EL spectra of the NIR LECs doped with DOTCI and DTTCI center at ca. 730 and 810 nm, respectively. Moreover, the DOTCI and DTTCI doped NIR LECs achieve peak EQE (power efficiency) up to 0.80% (5.65 mW W(-1)) and 1.24% (7.84 mW W(-1)), respectively. The device efficiencies achieved are among the highest reported for NIR LECs and thus confirm that phosphorescent sensitized fluorescence is useful for achieving efficient NIR LECs.     

Determination of critical micelle concentration of surfactants using a near-infrared hydrophobicity probe

A near-infrared (NIR) dye has been used for the determination of critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of surfactants. This NIR dye displays significant changes in its absorption spectra dependent on the hydrophobicity of the microenvironment around the dye molecule. The absorption spectra of this NIR dye show two distinct maxima which can be used in determining hydrophobicity. The NIR hydrophobicity probe detects the changes in the microenvironment hydrophobicity accompanying micelle formation. The determined CMC values are in good agreement with values obtained using other techniques. The major advantage of this NIR method lies in the inherently low interference of the NIR spectral region.     

Fluorimetric studies and noncovalent labeling of protein with the near-infrared dye HITCI for analysis by CE-LIF

1,1',3,3,3',3'-Hexamethylindotricarbocyanine iodide (HITCI) is a commercially available, positively charged, indocarbocyanine dye used typically as a laser dye in the near infrared (NIR). The absorbance and fluorescence properties of HITCI in a variety of solvent systems were determined. Results indicate that the fluorescence of HITCI is not significantly affected by the pH. Titration of HITCI with human serum albumin (HSA) and trypsinogen was carried out to investigate the interactions between this dye and proteins. These studies revealed that the absorbance and fluorescence properties of the dye change upon binding to protein in a wide range of solution pH's. The potential use of HITCI as a noncovalent protein labeling probe, therefore, was explored. Determination and separation of HITCI and HITCI-protein complexes was performed by capillary electrophoresis with diode-laser induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF). Both pre-column and on-column noncovalent labeling methods are demonstrated.     

Spectral and fluorescent study of the interaction of anionic cyanine dyes with serum albumins

The noncovalent interaction of two anionic cyanine dyes with human and bovine serum albumins was studied by spectral and fluorescent methods. Upon the interaction with albumins, a growth of fluorescence and, in most cases, a long-wavelength shift of the dye absorption band are observed. For the meso-substituted cyanine dye 3,3′-di-(γ-sulfopropyl)-9-methylthiacarbocyanine betaine (K1), a mobile cis-trans equilibrium is observed: the dye in the free state occurs mainly as the cis-isomer, whereas in the complex with albumins the equilibrium is shifted toward the trans-isomer (this shift is greater for human albumin). Dye K1 is recommended as a spectral and fluorescent probe for serum albumins.     

Dual temperature/pH-sensitive drug delivery of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) nanogels conjugated with doxorubicin for potential application in tumor hyperthermia therapy

The interaction of the amphiphilic drugs, i.e., amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMT) and promethazine hydrochloride (PMT), with serum albumins (i.e., human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA)), has been examined by the various spectroscopic techniques, like fluorescence, UV-vis, and circular dichroism (CD). Fluorescence results indicate that in case of HSA-drug complexes the quenching of fluorescence intensity at 280 nm is less effective as compared to at 295 nm while in case of BSA-drug complexes both have almost same effect and for most of drug-serum albumin complexes there is only one independent class of binding. For all drug-serum albumin complexes the quenching rate constant (K(q)) values suggest the static quenching procedure. The UV-vis results show that the change in protein conformation of PMT-serum albumin complexes was more prominent as compared to AMT-serum albumin complexes. The CD results also explain the conformational changes in the serum albumins on binding with drugs. The increase in α-helical structure for AMT-serum albumin complexes is found to be more as compared to PMT-serum albumin complexes. Hence, the various spectroscopic techniques provide a quantitative understanding of the binding of amphiphilic drugs with serum albumins.     

Study of the noncovalent interaction of squarylium dyes with serum albumins

The noncovalent interaction of zwitterionic indolium squarylium dyes (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) and a structurally analogous ionic indodicarbocyanine (hydrophilic) dye with serum albumins was studied by spectral and fluorescent methods. It has been found that the hydrophilic squarylium dye with sulfonate groups most efficiently interacts with albumins, which is probably due to the double negative charge of the dye molecule at the expense of the sulfonate groups and the possibility to form hydrogen bonds with albumin. The hydrophobic squarylium dye, as well as the hydrophilic indodicarbocyanine dye without the squarylium fragment in its structure, bind with albumins much weaker than the structurally relevant hydro- philic squarylium dye. The properties of the latter dye permit us to recommend it for using as a spectral and fluorescent probe for serum albumins in extracellular media of living organisms.     

Molecular spectroscopic study on the interaction of tetracyclines with serum albumins

A molecular spectroscopic investigation of the interaction between tetracyclines antibiotics and human serum albumin or bovine serum albumin was reported. The influences of some metal ions on the interaction were also studied. When tetracyclines drugs were added into the solution containing serum albumins, the fluorescence intensity of serum albumins decreased with the increasing of the drugs concentrations, which is due to the formation of new non-fluorescence complexes of drug-serum albumin. The tetracyclines acted as quenchers and quenched the fluorescence of the serum albumins. The binding constants and the number of the binding sites of the reaction of tetracyclines and serum albumins were obtained. The main sorts of acting force between the drugs and serum albumins were found and the action distances and the energy transfer efficiencies between donor-acceptor were calculated based on the Foster energy transference.     

Spectroscopic studies on the interaction between riboflavin and albumins

The interactions between riboflavin (RF) and human and bovine serum albumin (HSA and BSA) were studied by using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic methods. Intrinsic fluorescence emission spectra of serum albumin in the presence of RF show that the endogenous photosensitizer acts as a quencher. The decrease of fluorescence intensity at about 350 nm is attributed to changes in the environment of the protein fluorophores caused by the ligand. The quenching mechanisms of albumins by RF were discussed. The binding constants and binding site number were obtained at various temperatures. The distance between albumins and RF in the complexes suggests that the primary binding site for RF is close to tryptophan residue (Trp214) of HSA and Trp212 of BSA. The hydration process of albumins has also been discussed.     

VISIBLE LIGHT IRRADIATION OF HUMAN AND BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN-BILIRUBIN COMPLEX*

Abstract— The UV absorption and the fluorescence emission spectra of both bovine (BSA) and human (HSA) serum albumin underwent noticeable changes upon irradiation of their 1:1 complexes with bilirubin; both these phenomena are suggestive of the photosensitized modification of aromatic amino acid residues. Amino acid analysis showed that after relatively short irradiation times of both albumins, only histidyl and tryptophyl residues appeared to be affected to a significant extent. After 60min of irradiation, some decrease in the tyrosine content was also observed, especially for HSA.
Conformational studies, obtained by exposing unirradiated and irradiated BSA and HSA to denaturing agents, showed that the three-dimensional organization of the 15 min irradiated samples was slightly different from that of the native proteins. On the other hand, after 15 min of irradiation, the association constant of the bilirubin-albumin complexes decreased from 2.07 to 0.54×10⁸ M ^-1 for HSA and from 2.16 to 0.87×10⁷ M ^-1 for BSA.
These data indicate that the histidyl residues are relatively unimportant for maintaining the native tertiary structure of BSA and HSA, but they are critical for determining the binding capacity of the albumins. Our data also imply that the tertiary structure of the BSA molecule is more labile than that of HSA.     

一种光存储用短波长偶氮染料金属螯合物的光谱学与热学特性研究

设计合成一类与短波长(635～650nm)半导体激光器相匹配用于有机光盘的光存储介质的偶氮染料金属螯合物.测定了偶氮染料及其金属螯合物的紫外 可见光吸收光谱,采用分光光度法确定该金属螯合物的结构与组成,计算了它的稳定常数.差热热重分析显示该金属螯合物具有较好的热学性能,有望可作为光记录介质.     

Small molecule probes finely differentiate between various ds- and ss-DNA and RNA by fluorescence,CD and NMR response

Two small molecules showed intriguing properties of analytical multipurpose probes, whereby one chromophore gives different signal for many different DNA/RNA by application of several highly sensitive spectroscopic methods. Dyes revealed pronounced fluorescence ratiomeric differentiation between ds-AU-RNA, AT-DNA and GC-DNA in approximate order 10:8:1. Particularly interesting, dyes showed specific fluorimetric response for poly rA even at 10-fold excess of any other ss-RNA, and moreover such emission selectivity is preserved in multicomponent ss-RNA mixtures. The dyes also showed specific chiral recognition of poly rU in respect to the other ss-RNA by induced CD (ICD) pattern in visible range (400–500 nm), which was attributed to the dye-side-chain contribution to binding (confirmed by absence of any ICD band for reference compound lacking side-chain). Most intriguingly, minor difference in the side-chain attached to dye chromophore resulted in opposite sign of dye-ICD pattern, whereby differences in NMR NOESY contacts and proton chemical shifts between two dye/oligo rU complexes combined with MD simulations and CD calculations attributed observed bisignate ICD to the dimeric dye aggregate within oligo rU.     

DYES AND DYE MIXTURES USEFUL FOR GENERATION OF UV IN A FLASHLAMP DRIVEN TUNABLE DYE LASER

Abstract— We have used a flashlamp driven tunable dye laser combined with angle tuned frequency doubling crystals for producing UV-B radiation for action spectra studies of various organisms. Optimum UV-B power generation is needed to provide biologically effective doses at wavelengths greater than 300 nm. Optimizing power will also serve to lengthen the lifetime of dyes and other laser components at shorter wavelengths where UV-B output is more than adequate. While much information is available on dyes and dye performance from manufacturers, little information is available on the use of dyes and dye mixtures for providing the continuous high power spectrum of wavelengths necessary for biological UV action spectroscopy. We have examined a number of dyes and dye mixtures for optimal laser performance at wavelengths from 260 to 330 nm. The dyes and dye mixtures discussed here provide adequate power output in the UV-B wavelength range and have allowed us to perform numerous UV-B action spectra studies using the tunable dye laser.     

Protein binding of quinolonecarboxylic acids. II. Spectral changes on the interaction of cinoxacin, nalidixic acid and pipemidic acid with human and rat albumins

The interaction of cinoxacin (CINX), nalidixic acid (NA), and pipemidic acid (PPA) with human and rat serum albumins (HSA and RSA) was studied by UV difference absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. CINX and NA bound to the albumins and generated difference absorption and induced CD (ICD) spectra. The difference absorption spectral data explained reasonably our previous observations that CINX bound to HSA more weakly than NA, but to RSA as strongly as NA. We used a quantity delta epsilon/epsilon, designated as relative molar difference absorbance, at positions corresponding to the longest wavelength peaks in the difference spectra. The quantity was found to correlate linearly with percent bound to both HSA and RSA, but with different slopes, from which the binding site for CINX and NA in RSA was supposed to provide a much more nonpolar environment than that in HSA. The magnitude of ICD bands observed at 371 nm for CINX and at 342-348 nm for NA corresponded to the binding degrees of these drugs to both albumins. Anisotropy factors for the ICD bands at 350-271 nm for CINX and 320-348 nm for NA were approximately similar between HSA and RSA, suggesting a similar ability to generate the ICD spectra in these wavelength regions upon binding to the albumins. Spectral results for PPA in albumin solutions showed little or no binding of this drug to HSA and RSA. PPA existed as a betaine form in neutral solution and its positively charged group acted as an unfavorable factor for binding to both albumins.     

Design of a Near Infrared Fluorescent Ureter Imaging Agent for Prevention of Ureter Damage during Abdominal Surgeries

The inadvertent severing of a ureter during surgery occurs in as many as 4.5% of colorectal surgeries. To help prevent this issue, several near-infrared (NIR) dyes have been developed to assist surgeons with identifying ureter location. However, the majority of these dyes exhibit at least some issue that precludes their widespread usage such as high levels of uptake in other tissues, overlapping emission wavelengths with other NIR dyes used for other fluorescence-guided surgeries, and/or rapid excretion times through the ureters. To overcome these limitations, we have synthesized and characterized the spectral properties and biodistribution of a new series of PEGylated UreterGlow derivatives. The most promising dye, UreterGlow-11 was shown to almost exclusively excrete through the kidneys/ureters with detectable fluorescence observed for at least 12 h. Additionally, while the excitation wavelength is similar to that of other NIR dyes used for cancer resections, the emission is shifted by ~30 nm allowing for discrimination between the different fluorescence-guided surgery probes. In conclusion, these new UreterGlow dyes show promising optical and biodistribution characteristics and are good candidates for translation into the clinic.     

Role of the oxyallyl substructure in the near infrared (NIR) absorption in symmetrical dye derivatives: A computational study

It is well-known from experimental studies that the oxyallyl-substructure-based squarylium and croconium dyes absorb in the NIR region of the spectrum. Recently, another dye has been reported (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 348) which contains the same basic chromophore, but the absorption is red-shifted by at least 300 nm compared to the former dyes and is observed near 1100 nm. To analyze the reasons behind the large red shift, in this work we have carried out symmetry-adapted cluster-configuration interaction (SAC-CI) studies on some of these NIR dyes which contain the oxyallyl substructure. From this study, contrary to the earlier reports, it is seen that the donor groups do not seem to play a major role in the red-shift of the absorption. On the other hand, on the basis of the results of the high-level calculations carried out here and using qualitative molecular orbital theory, it is observed that the orbital interactions play a key role in the red shift. Finally, design principles for the oxyallyl-substructure-based NIR dyes are suggested.     

Effects of Amino Group Substitution on the Photophysical Properties and Stability of Near-Infrared Fluorescent P-Rhodamines

A series of phosphine oxide-bridged rhodamines (P-rhodamines) bearing various acyclic and cyclic amine moieties, including dimethyl- and diethylamine, azetidine, pyrrolidine and 7-azabicyclo[2,2,1]heptane (7ABH), have been synthesized. The photophysical properties as well as chemical and photostability of these dyes have been studied in detail. Among these dyes, the 7ABH-substituted dye shows stronger fluorescence in the near-infrared (NIR) region, relative to the other P-rhodamines. This dye could be applied to live-cell imaging, wherein lysosomes were selectively stained in a pH-independent manner. It was also found that the ring fusion of the amine moieties gives rise to remarkably redshifted spectra, with absorption and emission maxima at 770 and 820 nm, respectively, spectrally close to that of indocyanine green (ICG). Importantly, the ring-fused P-rhodamines showed much higher photostability than ICG, indicative of their promising utility as the NIR-emissive dyes.