The characterization for the binding of calcium and terbium to Euplotes octocarinatus centrin

Centrin is a member of the EF-hand superfamily that plays critical role in the centrosome duplication and separation. In the present paper, we characterized properties of metal ions binding to Euplotes octocarinatus centrin (EoCen) by fluorescence spectra and circular dichroism (CD) spectra. Changes of fluorescence spectra and alpha-helix contents of EoCen proved that Tb(3+) and Ca(2+) induced great conformational changes of EoCen resulting in exposing hydrophobic surfaces. At pH 7.4, Ca(2+) (and Tb(3+)) bond with EoCen at the ratio of 4:1. Equilibrium experiment indicated that Ca(2+) and Tb(3+) exhibited different binding capabilities for C- and N-terminal domains of protein. C-terminal domain bond with Ca(2+) or Tb(3+) approximately 100-fold more strongly than N-terminal. Aromatic residue-sensitized Tb(3+) energy transfer suggested that site IV bond to Tb(3+) or Ca(2+) more strongly than site III. Based on fluorescence titration curves, we reckoned the conditional binding constants of EoCen site IV quantitatively to be K(IV)=(1.23+/-0.51)x10(8)M(-1) and K(IV)=(6.82+/-0.33)x10(5)M(-1) with Tb(3+) and Ca(2+), respectively. Metal ions bond to EoCen in the order of IV>III>II, I.     

The spectral studies on the effect of Glu 101 to the metal binding characteristic of Euplotes octocarinatus centrin

Glu is highly conserved as the first amino acid of E-helix of the EF-hand protein. In this paper, Glu 101, the first amino acid of E-helix of the third EF-hand motif in Euplotes octocarinatus centrin (EoCen) was mutated to be Lys by the method of site direct mutation. Tb3+ and TNS were used as fluorescence probes in the study of the effect of this mutation to the metal binding characteristic of EoCen by fluorescence spectra. Results indicate that compared with EoCen, the mutation protein (E101K) displays a different Tb3+ binding characteristic and an increased hydrophobic exposure surface. Polyacrylamide gels electrophoresis indicated that the electrophoretic mobilities of EoCen and E101K are distinctly different. It can be deduced that the conformation of EoCen has been altered by this mutation. The general conditional binding constant of Tb3+ to the three loops of EF-hand sites I-III in E101K was calculated to be (5.64+/-0.57)x10(5)M(-1) according to the modified equation of the single binding process.     

Spectral studies on the interaction between lanthanum ion and the ligand: N,N'-ethylenebis-[2-(o-hydroxyphenolic)glycine

The interaction between N,N'-ethylenebis-[2-(o-hydroxyphenolic)glycine] (EHPG) and lanthanum was studied by the difference UV spectra and fluorescence spectra. At pH 7.4, 0.01 M N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethanesulfonic acid (Hepes), with the addition of 1.0 x 10(-3)M lanthanum, two new peaks were observed at 238 nm and 294 nm by absorptivity spectroscopy compared with blank solution EHPG suggesting the interaction of lanthanum and EHPG. At the same time, the reaction could be measured by fluorescence spectra. The fluorescence intensity of EHPG at 310 nm was significantly decreased in the presence of lanthanum. The 1:1 stoichiometric ratio of EHPG to lanthanum was confirmed by both fluorescence and UV titration curves. In addition, the molar absorptivity of La-EHPG at 238 nm is (1.23+/-0.01)x10(4)cm(-1)M(-1). The conditional binding constant was calculated to be log K(La-EHPG)=12.09+/-0.37 on the basis of the result of UV titration curves.     

A ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for iron: discrimination of Fe2+ and Fe3+ and living cell application

A newly designed probe, 6-thiophen-2-yl-5,6-dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo-[1,2-c] quinazoline (HL(1)) behaves as a highly selective ratiometric fluorescent sensor for Fe(2+) at pH 4.0-5.0 and Fe(3+) at pH 6.5-8.0 in acetonitrile-HEPES buffer (1/4) (v/v) medium. A decrease in fluorescence at 412 nm and increase in fluorescence at 472 nm with an isoemissive point at 436 nm with the addition of Fe(2+) salt solution is due to the formation of mononuclear Fe(2+) complex [Fe(II)(HL)(ClO(4))(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)] (1) in acetonitrile-HEPES buffer (100 mM, 1/4, v/v) at pH 4.5 and a decrease in fluorescence at 412 nm and increase in fluorescence at 482 nm with an isoemissive point at 445 nm during titration by Fe(3+) salt due to the formation of binary Fe(3+) complex, [Fe(III)(L)(2)(ClO(4))(H(2)O)] (2) with co-solvent at biological pH 7.4 have been established. Binding constants (K(a)) in the solution state were calculated to be 3.88 × 10(5) M(-1) for Fe(2+) and 0.21 × 10(3) M(-1/2) for Fe(3+) and ratiometric detection limits for Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) were found to be 2.0 μM and 3.5 μM, respectively. The probe is a "naked eye" chemosensor for two states of iron. Theoretical calculations were studied to establish the configurations of probe-iron complexes. The sensor is efficient for detecting Fe(3+)in vitro by developing a good image of the biological organelles.     

Spectral properties of the association nanoparticle system of ciprofloxacin-phloxine and its application to fluorescence analysis.

There is a fluorescence peak at 570 nm, and a maximum absorption peak at 560 nm for phloxine (PHLO) in a pH 7 water solution. Under these conditions, the ciprofloxacin cation (CPFX+) and PHLO- combine into hydrophobic CPFX-PHLO association molecule by means of static gravitation. There are stronger van der Waals forces and hydrophobic forces among the CPFX-PHLO molecules. Thus, they aggregate automatically to the (CPFX-PHLO)n association nanoparticle in red-violet color. That was characterized by scan electron microscopy (SEM), hyperfiltration and dialysis tests. In 0.04 M HCl, the red-violet nanoparticles exhibited a Rayleigh scattering peak at 470 nm, a resonance scattering peak at 580 nm, a maximum absorption wavelength at 565 nm, and a fluorescence peak at 450 nm. The fluorescence analytical conditions of CPFX have been considered. The CPFX concentration in the range of 1.0 x 10(-6)-4.0 x 10(-5) M is linear to the fluorescence intensity, F450nm. The detection limit was achieved at 4.0 x 10(-7) M CPFX. The CPFX in real samples was determined with satisfactory results.     

Violet light emitting diode-induced fluorescence detection combined with on-line sample concentration techniques for use in capillary electrophoresis

The first application of a violet light-emitting diode (LED) for fluorescence detection in capillary electrophoresis (CE) is described. The utility of violet LED (peak emission wavelength at 410 nm, approximately 2 mW) for fluorescence detection is demonstrated by examining reserpine and dopamine-labeled NDA (naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde), respectively. The detection limit for reserpine was determined to be 2.5 x 10(-6) M by normal micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) and this was improved to 2.0 x 10(-9) M and 2.0 x 10(-10) M when sweeping-MEKC and cation-selective exhaustive injection (CSEI)-sweep-MEKC techniques were applied, respectively. In addition, the detection limit of NDA-labeled dopamine was determined to be 6.3 x 10(-6) M by means of normal MEKC and this was improved to 3.0 x 10(-8) M when the sweeping-MEKC mode was applied.     

Spectral study on the interaction of cryptophane-A and neutral molecules CHnCl4-n (n=0, 1, 2)

Cryptophane-A was synthesized from vanillin by a three-step method and its spectroscopic properties in different organic solvents were determined. Two absorption bands at about 240-250 and 280-290 nm were observed for cryptophane-A. A fluorescence emission peak was obtained at 320-330 nm using a solution of approximately 10(-5)M cryptophane-A. The interaction of cryptophane-A with chlorinated compounds CH(n)Cl(4 - n) (n=0, 1, 2) in dioxane and ethyl acetate solvents were studied in detail by fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The results show that cryptophane-A is well suited for inclusion of CH(2)Cl(2) to form a stable 1:1 complex and the binding constant was estimated to be 19+/-2M(-1). These results were also confirmed by (1)H NMR and CPK models. Larger similar molecules such as CHCl(3) and CCl(4) are unable to enter the cavity of cryptophane-A because of their bigger sizes. However, the fluorescence emission of cryptophane-A can be efficiently quenched by CHCl(3) and CCl(4), following the Stern-Volmer relationship.     

汞离子的高灵敏度裸眼识别和荧光传感探针

设计合成了一种以耐尔蓝为母体的Hg2+光学探针分子1-苯甲酰-3-{2-[9-(乙氨基)-10-甲基-9H-苯并[α]苯酚-5-胺基]乙基}硫脲盐酸盐(NBET). 在pH=7.4的Tris-HCl缓冲液中, 探针分子最大吸收波长为640 nm, 此时溶液为淡蓝色; 加入汞离子可以诱导探针分子在640 nm处的吸收降低, 并在556 nm处产生新的吸收峰, 溶液变为浅紫色, 而其它金属离子的加入未引起显著变化, 基于此可对水溶液中的痕量Hg2+进行裸眼识别. 荧光光谱显示, 汞离子可以特异性地猝灭探针分子在660 nm处的荧光发射. 该探针分子的灵敏度、选择性及荧光量子产率高, 激发/发射波长长, 可以实现水溶液中0.005 μmol/L Hg2+的荧光检测.     

Enhanced detection of porphyrins by capillary electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence

A highly sensitive technique for the analysis of urinary porphyrins using capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection is reported. Separation of mesoporphyrin IX, coproporphyrin, uroporphyrin and the penta-, hexa- and heptacarboxylic acid porphyrins was achieved in 11 min using a 10 mM 2-(N-cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonic acid (CHES, pH 10) -75 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) buffer. Migration time and peak area repeatability were less than 1 and 5% relative standard deviation (RSD), respectively. Limits of detection of 20 pM (2 x 10(-11) M) were achieved employing the recently introduced Nichia violet diode laser for excitation at 400 nm. This represents an enhancement in sensitivity of over two orders of magnitude compared to previous reports. This high sensitivity for urinary porphyrins was demonstrated through the quantification of coproporphyrin and uroporphyrin in urine samples after up to a 100-fold dilution.     

Nickel(II)-induced excimer formation of a naphthalene-based fluorescent probe for living cell imaging

Ni(2+)-induced intramolecular excimer formation of a naphthalene-based novel fluorescent probe, 1-[(naphthalen-3-yl)methylthio]-2-[(naphthalen-6-yl)methylthio]ethane (L), has been investigated for the first time and nicely demonstrated by excitation spectra, a fluorescence lifetime experiment, and (1)H NMR titration. The addition of Ni(2+) to a solution of L (DMSO:water = 1:1, v/v; λ(em) = 345 nm, λ(ex) = 280 nm) quenched its monomer emission, with subsequent enhancement of the excimer intensity (at 430 nm) with an isoemissive point at 381 nm. The fluorescence lifetime of free L (0.3912 ns) is much lower than that of the nickel(2+) complex (1.1329 ns). L could detect Ni(2+) as low as 1 × 10(-6) M with a fairly strong binding constant, 2.0 × 10(4) M(-1). Ni(2+)-contaminated living cells of plant origin could be imaged using a fluorescence microscope.     

Analysis of the role of Mg²⁺ on conformational change and target recognition by ciliate Euplotes octocarinatus centrin

The binding of Mg(2+) with the Euplotes octocarinatus centrin (EoCen) and the effect of Mg(2+) on the binding of EoCen with the peptide melittin were examined by spectroscopic methods. In this study, it was found that Mg(2+) may bind with Ca(2+)-binding sites, at least partly, on EoCen, which displays ～10-fold weaker affinity than Ca(2+). In the presence of Mg(2+), Ca(2+)-saturated EoCen undergoes significant conformational changes resulting in decreased exposure of hydrophobic surfaces on the protein. Additionally, excess Mg(2+) did not change the stoichiometry, but rather reduced the affinity of EoCen to melittin. The Mg(2+)-dependent decrease in the affinities of EoCen to melittin is an intrinsic property of Mg(2+), rather than a nonspecific ionic effect. The inhibitory effect of Mg(2+) on the formation of complexes between EoCen and melittin may contribute to the specificity of EoCen in target activation in response to cellular Ca(2+) concentration fluctuations.     

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography--synchronous monitoring of substrate and products in the myrosinase catalysed hydrolysis of glucosinolates

A micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) method has been developed for monitoring the myrosinase catalysed hydrolysis of 2-hydroxy substituted glucosinolates and the simultaneous formation of the corresponding degradation products (oxazolidine-2-thiones (OZTs) and nitriles). Glucosibarin ((2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethylglucosinolate) was chosen as the model glucosinolate owing to the difficulties in determining hydrolysis rates of this type of substrates in traditional UV-assays. The method was afterwards validated with glucobarbarin ((2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethylglucosinolate) and progoitrin ((2R)-2-hydroxybut-3-enylglucosinolate). Aromatic glucosinolates without a 2-hydroxy group in their side chains, such as glucotropaeolin (benzylglucosinolate) and gluconasturtiin (phenethylglucosinolate) were also tested. Formation of the glucosinolate hydrolysis products was monitored simultaneously at 206 nm and 230 nm. This allowed estimation of the extinction coefficient of the OZT derived from glucosibarin, which was found to be 18,000 M(-1) cm(-1) and 12,000 M(-1) cm(-1) at 206 nm and 230 nm, respectively. The developed method has limit of detection of 0.04 mM and 0.06 mM and limit of quantification of 0.2 mM and 0.3 mM for the glucosibarin derived OZT and nitrile, respectively. Linearity of the glucosinolate concentration was examined at six concentration levels from 2.5 mM to 100 mM and at 206 nm a straight line (R(2)=0.9996) was obtained. The number of theoretical plates (N) at the optimal system conditions was 245,000 for the intact glucosibarin, 264,000 for the OZT and 252,000 for the nitrile.     

Dansyl-anthracene dyads for ratiometric fluorescence recognition of Cu2+

Dansyl-anthracene dyads 1 and 2 in CH(3)CN-H(2)O (7:3) selectively recognize Cu(2+) ions amongst alkali, alkaline earth and other heavy metal ions using both absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. In absorbance, the addition of Cu(2+) to the solution of dyads 1 or 2 results in appearance of broad absorption band from 200 nm to 725 nm for dyad 1 and from 200 nm to 520 nm for dyad 2. This is associated with color change from colorless to blue (for 1) and fluorescent green (for 2). This bathochromic shift of the spectrum could be assigned to internal charge transfer from sulfonamide nitrogen to anthracene moiety. In fluorescence, under similar conditions dyads 1 and 2 on addition of Cu(2+) selectively quench fluorescence due to dansyl moiety between 520-570 nm (for 1)/555-650 nm (for 2) with simultaneous fluorescence enhancement at 470 nm and 505 nm for dyads 1 and 2, respectively. Hence these dyads provide opportunity for ratiometric analysis of 1-50 μM Cu(2+). The other metal ions viz. Fe(3+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cd(2+), Zn(2+), Hg(2+), Ag(+), Pb(2+), Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Ba(2+) do not interfere in the estimation of Cu(2+) except Cr(3+) in case of dyad 1. The coordination of dimethylamino group of dansyl unit with Cu(2+) causes quenching of fluorescence due to dansyl moiety between 520-600 nm and also restricts the photoinduced electron transfer from dimethylamino to anthracene moiety to release fluorescence between 450-510 nm. This simultaneous quenching and release of fluorescence respectively due to dansyl and anthracene moieties emulates into Cu(2+) induced ratiometric change.     

荧光增强型共轭聚电解质的合成及对肝素的双通道检测

通过Suzuki偶联反应制备了含有四苯基乙烯和苯并噻二唑2种结构单元的阳离子型共轭聚电解质P1,并通过核磁共振氢谱确定了2种结构单元的比例为0.803:0.197,与投料比基本一致.当在P1的水溶液中加入不良溶剂THF时,在紫外光照下可以观察到其溶液颜色由土黄色(无聚集态)转变为橙黄色(聚集态).利用P1在不同聚集态下的荧光强度和发光颜色变化,可以实现对肝素的双通道检测.当肝素逐渐滴加到P1的水溶液中,P1的荧光发射强度随着肝素浓度的增加而线性增加,且其最大发射峰峰位发生线性红移,正负电荷饱和时强度达到最大且波长不再移动,该性质可作为双通道检测信号来标定肝素的浓度,从而提高肝素浓度检测的准确性.动态激光光散射的测试以及肝素滴定紫外图谱的变化结果表明,肝素与P1作用时聚集诱导发光和荧光共振能量转移两种作用共存,从而导致了荧光强度的增强,且伴随最大发射波长的红移.     

Synthesis of a novel fluorescent probe and investigation on its interaction with nucleic acid and analytical application

A novel fluorescent probe N-(N-(2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl)-4-acridinecarboxamide)-alpha-alanine (N-(N-(ME)-4-ACA)-alpha-ALA) was synthesized. The structure was characterized by 1H NMR, MS, elemental analysis, fluorescent and ultraviolet spectra. This new compound exhibited high binding affinity to DNA, intense fluorescence and high water solubility. Experiment indicated that the fluorescent intensity was quenched when DNA was added. A method for DNA determination based on the quenching fluorescence (lambda(ex)=258nm, lambda(em)=451nm) of N-(N-(ME)-4-ACA)-alpha-ALA was established. Under optimal conditions (pH 7.2, CN-(N-(ME)-4-ACA)-alpha-ALA)=3 x 10(-6) mol L(-1)), the linear range is 0.1-4.0 microg mL(-1) for both fish semen (fsDNA) and calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA). The corresponding determination limits are 4.6 ng mL(-1) for fsDNA and 5.1 ng mL(-1) for ct-DNA, respectively. The relative standard deviation is 1.0%. Thus this compound can be used as a DNA fluorescent probe. The experiments proved that the interaction mode between N-(N-(ME)-4-ACA)-alpha-ALA and DNA was groove binding. The modified Rosenthal's graphical method gave the binding constant of 1.0 x 10(6) L mol(-1) and a binding size of 0.31 base pairs per bound drug molecule.     

UV and fluorescence spectral changes induced by neodymium binding of N,N'-ethylenebis[2-(o-hydroxyphenolic)glycine] and N,N'-di(2-hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N' diacetic acid

In 0.01 M 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (Hepes), pH 7.4 and room temperature, the binding of neodymium to N,N'-ethylenebis[2-(o-hydroxyphenolic)glycine] (EHPG), or N,N'-di(2-hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N' diacetic acid (HBED) had been studied from 210 to 330 nm by means of difference UV spectra. Two peaks at 240 and 292 nm appear in difference UV spectra after neodymium binding to EHPG or HBED. The 1:1 stable complex can be confirmed from spectral titration curves. The molar extinction coefficient of Nd-EHPG and Nd-HBED complexes are Deltaepsilon(Nd-EHPG)=(12.93+/-0.21) x 10(3)cm(-1)M(-1), Deltaepsilon(Nd-HBED)=(14.45+/-0.51) x 10(5)cm(-1)M(-1) at 240 nm, respectively. Using EDTA as a competitor, the conditional equilibrium constants of the complexes are logK(Nd-EHPG)=11.89+/-0.09 and logK(Nd-HBED)=12.19+/-0.15, respectively. At the same conditions, fluorescence measurements show that neodymium binding to EHPG leads to a quenching of the fluorescence of EHPG at near 310 nm. However, there is no obvious fluorescence change of HBED at 318 nm with the binding of neodymium to HBED.     

Changes in the structure of chlorophyll-protein complexes and excitation energy transfer during photoinhibitory treatment of isolated photosystem I submembrane particles

The activity of light-induced oxygen consumption, absorption spectra, low temperature (77 K) chlorophyll fluorescence emission and excitation spectra were studied in suspensions of photosystem (PS) I submembrane particles illuminated by 2000 microE m(-2) s(-1) strong white light (WL) at 4 degrees C. A significant stimulation of oxygen uptake was observed during the first 1-4 h of photoinhibitory treatment, which rapidly decreased during further light exposure. Chlorophyll (Chl) content gradually declined during the exposure of isolated PSI particles to strong light. In addition to the Chl photobleaching, pronounced changes were found in Chl absorption and fluorescence spectra. The position of the major peak in the red part of the absorption spectrum shifted from 680 nm towards shorter wavelengths in the course of strong light exposure. A 6-nm blue shift of that peak was observed after 5-h illumination. Even more pronounced changes were found in the characteristics of Chl fluorescence. The magnitude of the dominating long-wavelength emission band at 736 nm located in untreated particles was five times reduced after 2-h exposure, whereas the loss in absolute Chl contents did not exceed 10% of its initial value. The major peak in low-temperature Chl fluorescence emission spectra shifted from 736 to 721 nm after 6-h WL treatment. Individual Chl-protein complexes differed in the response of their absorption spectra to strong WL. Unlike light-harvesting complexes (LHC), LHCI-680 and LHC-730, which did not exhibit changes in the major peak position, its maximum was shifted from 678 to 671 nm in CPIa complex after PSI submembrane particles were irradiated with strong light for 6 h. The results demonstrated that excitation energy transfer represents the stage of photosynthetic utilization of absorbed quanta which is most sensitive to strong light in isolated PSI particles.     

Amino-imino tautomerization reaction of the 4-aminopyrimidine/acetic acid system

The amino-imino tautomerization of the 4-aminopyrimidine (4APM)/acetic acid (AcOH) system through dual hydrogen bonding in n-hexane at room temperature was investigated using UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies, fluorescence time-profile measurements, and molecular orbital calculations, with those of the imino-model compound of 3-methyl-4(1H)-pyrimidinimine (3M4PMI). From the experimental results, it was confirmed that the imino-tautomer was formed in the first excited singlet state (S1) state through the double-proton transfer of the dual hydrogen-bonded complex of 4APM with AcOH. The fluorescences of the free 4APM monomer (band maximum at 353nm), imino-tautomer (at 414nm), and 3M4PMI monomer (at 437nm) exhibit the single-exponential decays of 98, 73, and 19ps time constants, respectively. The shorter decay time of the imino-tautomer fluorescence compared with the free monomer one is suggestive of the low activation energy process in the S1 state. From the result of the shortest decay time of the 3M4PMI fluorescence, it can be deduced that 3M4PMI has a non-planar structure in the S1 state. The theoretical calculations on the S0 and S1 state double-proton transfer for the 4APM/AcOH dual hydrogen-bonded system were performed with the use of formic acid (FoOH) in place of AcOH for the sake of simplicity. Only one peak of transition state was resolved in the S0 and S1 states. The energy barrier for the S1 state double-proton transfer of the 4APM/FoOH complex-->3H-4(1H)-pyrimidinimine/FoOH tautomer was estimated to be approximately 2kJmol(-1) using the CIS/6-31G(d) methods. On the other hand, the energy barrier for the S0 state reverse proton transfer of the 3H-4(1H)-pyrimidinimine/FoOH tautomer-->4APM/FoOH complex was estimated to be almost zero kJmol(-1) at B3LYP/6-31G(d) level.     

TSQ (6-methoxy-8-p-toluenesulfonamido-quinoline), a common fluorescent sensor for cellular zinc, images zinc proteins

Zn(2+) is a necessary cofactor for thousands of mammalian proteins. Research has suggested that transient fluxes of cellular Zn(2+) are also involved in processes such as apoptosis. Observations of Zn(2+) trafficking have been collected using Zn(2+) responsive fluorescent dyes. A commonly used Zn(2+) fluorophore is 6-methoxy-8-p-toluenesulfonamido-quinoline (TSQ). The chemical species responsible for TSQ's observed fluorescence in resting or activated cells have not been characterized. Parallel fluorescence microscopy and spectrofluorometry of LLC-PK(1) cells incubated with TSQ demonstrated punctate staining that concentrated around the nucleus and was characterized by an emission maximum near 470 nm. Addition of cell permeable Zn-pyrithione resulted in greatly increased, diffuse fluorescence that shifted the emission peak to 490 nm, indicative of the formation of Zn(TSQ)(2). TPEN (N,N,N'N'-tetrakis(-)[2-pyridylmethyl]-ethylenediamine), a cell permeant Zn(2+) chelator, largely quenched TSQ fluorescence returning the residual fluorescence to the 470 nm emission maximum. Gel filtration chromatography of cell supernatant from LLC-PK(1) cells treated with TSQ revealed that TSQ fluorescence (470 nm emission) eluted with the proteome fractions. Similarly, addition of TSQ to proteome prior to chromatography resulted in 470 nm fluorescence emission that was not observed in smaller molecular weight fractions. It is hypothesized that Zn-TSQ fluorescence, blue-shifted from the 490 nm emission maximum of Zn(TSQ)(2), results from ternary complex, TSQ-Zn-protein formation. As an example, Zn-carbonic anhydrase formed a ternary adduct with TSQ characterized by a fluorescence emission maximum of 470 nm and a dissociation constant of 1.55 × 10(-7) M. Quantification of TSQ-Zn-proteome fluorescence indicated that approximately 8% of cellular Zn(2+) was imaged by TSQ. These results were generalized to other cell types and model Zn-proteins.     

基于羟苯基苯并咪唑的Zn2+比率荧光探针

通过羰基将两分子2-(4-氨基-2-羟苯基)苯并咪唑(4-AHBI)连接,合成了结构高度对称的新化合物N,N′-二-[3-羟基-4-(2-苯并咪唑)苯基]脲(C27H20N6O3,1),测试了不同溶剂条件下1的紫外吸收和荧光发射光谱,研究了1对Zn2+的选择性识别作用。结果表明,随着溶剂极性的增大,1的紫外吸收峰发生蓝移,激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)荧光发射峰明显增强。与4-AHBI相比,1在乙腈溶液中的紫外吸收强度增强约3.5倍,最大吸收峰红移8 nm,荧光发射增强8倍多。1在乙腈溶液中的Zn2+荧光响应行为表明1与Zn2+的结合将导致1在445 nm处的荧光强度不断降低,而在395 nm处出现的新峰的荧光强度不断增强,具有比率荧光探针的特点,而且检测范围较宽,可达1×10-6-1×10-2 mol.L-1。