Development of a Small Molecule Probe Capable of Discriminating Cysteine,Homocysteine, and Glutathione with Three Distinct Turn‐On Fluorescent Outputs

The simultaneous discrimination of Cys, Hcy, and GSH by a single probe is still an unmet challenge. The design and synthesis of a small molecule probe MeO‐BODIPY‐Cl (BODIPY=boron dipyrromethene) is presented, which can allow Cys, Hcy, and GSH to be simultaneously discriminated on the basis of three distinct fluorescence turn‐on responses. The probe reacts with these thiols to form sulfenyl‐substituted BODIPY, which is followed by intramolecular displacement to yield amino‐substituted BODIPY. The kinetic rate of the intramolecular displacement reaction determines the observed different sensing behavior. Therefore, the probe responds to Cys, Hcy, and GSH with fluorescence turn‐on colors of yellow, yellow and red, and red, respectively. With this promising feature in hand, the probe was successfully used in imaging of Cys, Hcy and GSH in living cells.     

A multisite-binding fluorescent probe for simultaneous monitoring of mitochondrial homocysteine,cysteine and glutathione in live cells and zebrafish

Homocysteine(Hcy), cysteine(Cys) and glutathione(GSH) play crucial roles in redox homeostasis during mitochondria functions. Simultaneous differentiation and visualization of mitochondrial biothiols dynamics are significant for understanding cell metabolism and their related diseases. Herein, a multisitebinding fluorescent probe(MCP) was developed for simultaneous sensing of mitochondrial Cys, GSH and Hcy from three fluorescence channels for the first time. This novel probe exhibited rapid fluor...     

Exceptional time response,stability and selectivity in doubly-activated phenyl selenium-based glutathione-selective platform

A phenyl-selenium-substituted coumarin probe was synthesized for the purpose of achieving highly selective and extremely rapid detection of glutathione (GSH) over cysteine (Cys)/homocysteine (Hcy) without background fluorescence. The fluorescence intensity of the probe with GSH shows a ∼100-fold fluorescent enhancement compared with the signal generated for other closely related amino acids, including Cys and Hcy. Importantly, the substitution reaction with the sulfhydryl group of GSH at the 4-position of the probe, which is doubly-activated by two carbonyl groups, occurs extremely fast, showing subsecond maximum fluorescence intensity attainment; equilibrium was reached within 100 ms (UV-vis). The probe selectivity for GSH was confirmed in Hep3B cells by confocal microscopy imaging.     

Design of fluorescent probes with optimized responsiveness and selectivity to GSH

We designed and synthesized a series of BODIPY based probes with fast and distinct ratiometric responsiveness for discriminative detection of GSH from Cys and Hcy. The discriminative detection is based on the different products obtained by the S_NAr between probes and thiol-containing amino acids. The amino group of the obtained thioether from the reaction with Cys or Hcy but not GSH would trigger an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution through five- or six-membered cyclic transition state, finally yielding an amino substituted derivative. To achieve highly discriminative detection and fast response, a series of structure modifications and improvements have been made by elongating the π-conjugation and introducing electron withdrawing groups, finally affording probe BOD-DBNPF with optimized responsiveness and selectivity. Importantly, BOD-DBNPF was successfully used for the selective detection of GSH from Cys with distinct fluorescent ratiometric responses in living HeLa cells.     

A Multi‐signal Fluorescent Probe with Multiple Binding Sites for Simultaneous Sensing of Cysteine,Homocysteine, and Glutathione

A novel fluorescent probe was developed by integrating chlorinated coumarin and benzothiazolylacetonitrile and exploited for simultaneous detection of cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and glutathione (GSH). Featuring four binding sites and different reaction mechanisms for different biothiols, this probe exhibited rapid fluorescence turn‐on for distinguishing Cys, Hcy, and GSH with 108‐, 128‐, 30‐fold fluorescence increases at 457, 559, 529 nm, respectively, across different excitation wavelengths. Furthermore, the probe was successfully applied to the fluorescence imaging of endogenous Cys and GSH and exogenous Cys, Hcy, and GSH in living cells.     

A Multi‐signal Fluorescent Probe with Multiple Binding Sites for Simultaneous Sensing of Cysteine,Homocysteine, and Glutathione

A novel fluorescent probe was developed by integrating chlorinated coumarin and benzothiazolylacetonitrile and exploited for simultaneous detection of cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and glutathione (GSH). Featuring four binding sites and different reaction mechanisms for different biothiols, this probe exhibited rapid fluorescence turn‐on for distinguishing Cys, Hcy, and GSH with 108‐, 128‐, 30‐fold fluorescence increases at 457, 559, 529 nm, respectively, across different excitation wavelengths. Furthermore, the probe was successfully applied to the fluorescence imaging of endogenous Cys and GSH and exogenous Cys, Hcy, and GSH in living cells.     

A fluorescence turn-on probe for cysteine and homocysteine based on thiol-triggered benzothiazolidine ring formation

We synthesized a new coumarin-based probe TP, containing a disulfide moiety, to detect biothiols in cells. A fluorescence turn-on response is induced by the thiol–disulfide exchange of the probe, with subsequent intramolecular benzothiazolidine ring formation giving rise to a fluorescent product. The probe exhibits an excellent selectivity for cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy) over glutathione (GSH) and other amino acids. The fluorescent probe also exhibits a highly sensitive fluorescence turn-on response to Cys and Hcy with detection limits of 0.8 μM for Cys and 0.5 μM for Hcy. In addition, confocal fluorescence microscopy imaging using RAW264.7 macrophages demonstrates that the probe TP could be an efficient fluorescent detector for thiols in living cells.     

特异性识别半胱氨酸荧光探针的合成及细胞成像研究

基于光诱导电子转移(PET)机制,利用Cys亲核性较强,能够与探针分子发生亲核取代反应,使丙烯酰基离去,使探针分子体系内PET过程失效,合成了一种特异性识别半胱氨酸的荧光探针。当向探针溶液分别加入多种测试物时,除与Cys结构类似的Hcy和GSH会引起探针溶液微弱的荧光变化外,其他氨基酸均不会引起探针溶液荧光强度的变化,该探针对Cys具有良好的选择性和灵敏度,可在生理条件下检测Cys,并且区分Hcy和GSH。同时,该探针成功实现了细胞内Cys的荧光成像,为在生物学及医学中的实际应用建立了一种特异性识别Cys的分析方法。     

A TICS-fluorophore based probe for dual-color GSH imaging

Cascading reactions in fluorophores accompanied by the replacement of different fluorescence wavelengths can be used to develop luminescent materials and reactive fluorescent probes. Based on multiple signal channels, the selectivity of probes can be improved and the range of response to guest molecule recognition can be expanded. By regulating the position, number, and activity of active sites in fluorophores, fluorescent probes that successively react with thiol and amino groups in cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy) have been developed, which can only react with the thiol group of GSH. In this paper, we report the first probe capable of cascading nucleophilic substitution reaction with the thiol group and amino group of GSH at a single reaction site, and showed the dual-color recognition of GSH, which improved the selectivity of GSH also was an extension of GSH probes. The probe Rho-DEA was based on a TICS fluorophore, and the intramolecular cascade nucleophilic substitution reaction occurs with Cys/Hcy. The thiol substitution of the first step reaction with Cys/Hcy was quenched due to intersystem crossing to triplet state, so GSH can be selectively recognized from the fluorescence signal. Rho-DEA has the ability of mitochondrial localization, and finally realized in situ dual-color fluorescence recognition of GSH in mitochondria.     

Rational design of a bifunctional fluorescent probe for distinguishing Hcy/Cys from GSH with ideal properties

By pairing two fluoropho res according to their optical prope rties such as absorption spectral overlap and absorptivity,fluorescent quantum yield and emission spectral separation,a bifunctional fluorescent probe,TQBF-NBD,was rationally designed and synthesized to discriminatively sense Hcy/Cys and GSH with good selectivity and sensitivity.It is noted that this probe could work under a single-wave length excitation and displayed a mega-large Stokes shift.TQBF-NBD reacted with Hcy/Cys to give a mixed green-red fluorescence and displayed a red fluorescence upon the treatment with GSH.Distinguishable imaging of intracellular Hcy/Cys from GSH with the help of TQBF-NBD was realized in living cells and zebrafish.     

Construction of a Selective Fluorescent Probe for GSH Based on a Chloro‐Functionalized Coumarin‐enone Dye Platform

Glutathione (GSH), the most abundant intracellular biothiol, protects cellular components from damage caused by free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and plays a crucial role in human pathologies. A fluorescent probe that can selectively sense intracellular GSH would be very valuable for understanding of its biological functions and mechanisms of diseases. In this work, a 3,4‐dimethoxythiophenol‐substituted coumarin‐enone was exploited as a reaction‐type fluorescent probe for GSH based on a chloro‐functionalized coumarin‐enone platform. In the probe, the 3,4‐dimethoxythiophenol group functions not only as a fluorescence quencher through photoinduced electron transfer (PET) to ensure a low background fluorescence, but also as a reactive site for biothiols. The probe displays a dramatic fluorescence turn‐on response toward GSH with the long‐wavelength emission (600 nm) and significant Stokes shift (100 nm). The selectivity of the probe toward GSH over cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and other amino acids was demonstrated. Assisted by laser‐scanning confocal microscopy, we have demonstrated that the probe could specifically sense GSH over Cys/Hcy in human renal cell carcinoma SiHa cells.     

A special o-dialdehyde fluorescent probe simultaneously sensing Hcy,GSH and its application in living cells and zebrafish imaging

The development of fluorescent probes enabling to distinguish Cys, Hcy and GSH has always been a considerable challenge, in particular the distinction of Hcy and other two biothiols, because Hcy has a very similar structure with Cys and a relatively lower concentration in living organisms. In this work, a special o-dialdehyde fluorescent probe, quinoline-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (QDA), has been synthesized and demonstrated superior performance in differentiating detection of Hcy and GSH, which is different from the previous reported o-dialdehyde probes specifically detecting GSH. Furthermore, the probe can selectively distinguish Hcy and GSH from different signal channels in living cells and zebrafish, meaning it has great potential in biological applications. This finding will provide a novel idea for the design of fluorescent probes to distinguish biothiols.     

基于新型不对称BODIPY的GSH荧光探针

本文通过在BODIPY母体中引入丙二腈,设计合成了一个新型不对称BODIPY荧光染料CN-B-Cl。由于丙二腈强吸电作用,荧光染料CN-B-Cl具有优异的化学活性,能够与含巯基的化合物在buffer体系中迅速发生芳香亲核取代反应;与GSH反应生成硫取代BODIPY,而与Cys/Hcy反应生成氮取代BODIPY。根据不同取代基BODIPY化合物发光性能的不同,该荧光探针可选择性区分GSH与Cys/Hcy。     

Distinguishable multi-substance detection based on three-channel NIR fluorescent probe in physiology and pathology of living cells and zebrafish

Mitochondria is the main organelle for the production of reactive sulfur species (RSS), such as homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys), glutathione (GSH) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). These compounds participate in a large number of physiological processes and play an extremely important role in maintaining the balance of life systems. Abnormal concentration and metabolism are closely related to many diseases. Due to their similarities in chemical properties, it is challenging to develop a single fluorescent probe to distinguish them simultaneously. Here, we synthesized the probe PI-CONBD with three fluorophores, NBD-Cl and benzopyranate as the reaction sites of GSH/Cys/Hcy and SO₂, respectively. Three biothiols all could cleavage ether bond to release benzopyrylium and coumarin moiety, which emitted red and blue fluorescence, but Cys/Hcy also could do intramolecular rearrangement after nucleophilic substitution, resulting in yellow fluorescence. Thus the probe can distinguish Cys/Hcy and GSH. Subsequently, only SO₂ could quench red fluorescence by adding CC of benzopyrylium. The probe also could localize well in mitochondria by oxonium ion for all kinds of cells. The probe not only could detect above sulfur-containing active substances of intracellular and extracellular but also monitor the level of them under oxidative stress and apoptosis process in living cells and zebrafish.     

基于萘酰亚胺的生物硫醇探针的合成及对含硫醇氨基酸的检测

合成了以4-羟基萘酰亚胺为荧光团,2,4-二硝基苯磺酰氧基为特异性识别基团的生物硫醇探针4-(2,4-二硝基苯磺酰氧基)-正丁基-1,8-萘酰亚胺(DNSBN).吸收光谱和荧光光谱结果表明, DNSBN对半胱氨酸(Cys)、同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)3种生物硫醇分子具有高效的检测识别能力,不受其它17种天然氨基酸的干扰.同时,通过荧光滴定实验证实了此探针是一种比率型探针,555 nm处的荧光强度与溶液中的生物硫醇分子浓度在0 ~ 20 μmol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,对Cys、Hcy和GSH的检出限(3σ)分别为25.9、92.0和77.9 nmol/L.而吸收光谱、荧光光谱和质谱表征数据显示,生物硫醇与2,4-二硝基苯磺酸酯发生亲核取代反应并导致磺酸酯的分解.随着识别基团的解离,探针分子的d-PeT (donor-excited photoinduced electron transfer) 效应被解除,并出现非常明显的比色与荧光变化.HeLa细胞成像实验表明,探针DNSBN具有良好的生物相容性,能够对细胞外源性生物硫醇分子进行检测.     

Dual‐Emission Channels for Simultaneous Sensing of Cysteine and Homocysteine in Living Cells

The development of a fluorescent probe to distinguish between cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy) is always a challenge owing to their structural similarity, and the simultaneous detection of Cys and Hcy by utilizing different emission channels is especially difficult. In this work, we designed and synthesized a new fluorescent probe to differentiate between Cys and Hcy on the basis of a coumarin derivative with a chlorine atom and an α,β‐unsaturated aldehyde. Cys and Hcy induced different cascade reactions with the probe, which led to different products with distinct photophysical properties. The nonfluorescent probe responded to Cys and emitted strong blue fluorescence, whereas it reacted with Hcy and generated yellow fluorescence without interference from glutathione. In addition, the probe was successfully applied to distinguish between Cys and Hcy in living cells.     

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.     

Simultaneous Visualization of Endogenous Homocysteine,Cysteine, Glutathione,and their Transformation through Different Fluorescence Channels

Studying numerous biologically important species simultaneously is crucial to understanding cellular functions and the root causes of related diseases. Direct visualization of endogenous biothiols in biological systems is of great value to understanding their biological roles. Herein, a novel multi‐signal fluorescent probe was rationally designed and exploited for the simultaneous sensing of homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys), and glutathione (GSH) using different emission channels. This probe was successfully applied to the simultaneous discrimination between and visualization of endogenous Hcy, Cys, GSH, and their transformation in living cells.     

Rational Design of an Ultrasensitive and Highly Selective Chemodosimeter by a Dual Quenching Mechanism for Cysteine Based on a Facile Michael‐Transcyclization Cascade Reaction

Differentiation of biologically important thiols, such as cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and glutathione (GSH) is still a challenging task. Herein, we present a novel fluorescent chemodosimeter capable of selectively detecting Cys over other biothiols including Hcy and GSH and other amino acids by a facile thiol‐Michael addition/transcyclization rearrangement cascade click process. The unique transcyclization step is critical for the selectivity as a result of the kinetically favorable formation of a six‐membered ring with the Cys Michael adduct. Moreover, the probe adopts a distinctive dual quenching mechanism—photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) to deliver a drastic turn‐on fluorescence response only at the Cys‐selective transcylization step. The judicious selection of strong electron‐withdrawing naphthalimide fluorophore with maleimide group enhances the electrophilicity and thus reactivity for the cascade process leading to fast detection and ultrasensitivity with a detection limit of 2.0 nm (S/N=3). The probe has demonstrated its practical utility potential in Cys imaging in live cells.     

Simultaneous Visualization of Endogenous Homocysteine,Cysteine, Glutathione,and their Transformation through Different Fluorescence Channels

Studying numerous biologically important species simultaneously is crucial to understanding cellular functions and the root causes of related diseases. Direct visualization of endogenous biothiols in biological systems is of great value to understanding their biological roles. Herein, a novel multi‐signal fluorescent probe was rationally designed and exploited for the simultaneous sensing of homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys), and glutathione (GSH) using different emission channels. This probe was successfully applied to the simultaneous discrimination between and visualization of endogenous Hcy, Cys, GSH, and their transformation in living cells.