Design of a hybrid biosensor for enhanced phosphopeptide recognition based on a phosphoprotein binding domain coupled with a fluorescent chemosensor

Protein-based fluorescent biosensors with sufficient sensing specificity are useful analytical tools for detection of biologically important substances in complicated biological systems. Here, we present the design of a hybrid biosensor, specific for a bis-phosphorylated peptide, based on a natural phosphoprotein binding domain coupled with an artificial fluorescent chemosensor. The hybrid biosensor consists of a phosphoprotein binding domain, the WW domain, into which has been introduced a fluorescent stilbazole having Zn(II)-dipicolylamine (Dpa) as a phosphate binding motif. It showed strong binding affinity and high sensing selectivity toward a specific bis-phosphorylated peptide in the presence of various phosphate species such as the monophosphorylated peptide, ATP, and others. Detailed fluorescence titration experiments clearly indicate that the binding-induced fluorescence enhancement and the sensing selectivity were achieved by the cooperative action of both binding sites of the hybrid biosensor, i.e., the WW domain and the Zn(II)-Dpa chemosensor unit. Thus, it is clear that the tethered Zn(II)-Dpa-stilbazole unit operated not only as a fluorescence signal transducer, but also as a sub-binding site in the hybrid biosensor. Taking advantage of its selective sensing property, the hybrid biosensor was successfully applied to real-time and label-free fluorescence monitoring of a protein kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation.     

Tuning the selectivity of two chemosensors to Fe(III) and Cr(III)

Two rhodamine-based chemosensors (1 and 2) were designed, and their sensing behavior toward metal ions was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopies. 1 and 2 achieved tuning the selectivity to Fe(III) and Cr(III) in 100% aqueous solution, whereas other ions including Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Mg(II), Ba(II), Pb(II), Na(I), and K(I) induced basically no spectral change, which constituted a Fe(III)-selective and a Cr(III)-selective fluorescent chemosensor, respectively.     

A colormetric and fluorescent chemosensor for adenosine-5′-triphosphate based on rhodamine derivative

A rhodamine spirolactam derivative (1) was developed as a colormetric and fluorescent chemosensor for adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP) via hydrogen bonds interaction. As far as we know, this is the first case to explore ATP-induced ring-opening of spirolactam in rhodamine derivatives. It exhibited a highly sensitive “turn-on” fluorescent response toward ATP with a 47-fold fluorescence intensity enhancement under 20 equiv. of ATP added. The chemosensor can be applied to the quantification of ATP with a linear range covering from 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 2.0 × 10⁻⁴ M and a detection limit of 2.5 × 10⁻⁸ M. The experiment results show that the response behavior of 1 toward ATP is pH independent in medium condition (pH 6.0–8.0). Most importantly, the novel chemosensor has well solved the problem of serious interferences from other nucleoside polyphosphates such as ADP and AMP generally met by previously reported typical fluorescent chemosensors for ATP. Moreover, the response of the chemosensor toward ATP is fast (response time less than 3 min). In addition, the chemosensor can be used for the fluorescence assay for protein kinase activity with satisfactory results. The chemosensor for ATP based on hydrogen bonds interaction provided a novel strategy for the design of colormetric and ratiometric fluorescent probes for other target anions with high sensitivity and selectivity.     

A highly selective and sensitive fluorescence sensing system for distinction between diphosphate and nucleoside triphosphates

Among the numerous chemosensors available for diphosphate (P(2)O(7)(4-), PPi) and nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs), only a few can distinguish between PPi and NTPs. Hence, very few bioanalytical applications based on such selective chemosensors have been realized. We have developed a new fluorescence sensing system for distinction between PPi and NTPs based on the combination of two sensors, a binuclear Zn(II) complex (1·2Zn) and boronic acid (BA), in which one chemosensor (1·2Zn) shows signal changes depending on the PPi (or NTP) concentration, and the other (BA) blocks the signal change caused by NTPs; this system enables the distinction of PPi from NTPs and is sensitive to nanomolar concentrations of PPi. The new sensing system has been successfully used for the direct quantification of RNA polymerase activity.     

A Fluorescence Sensor Array Based on Zinc(II)-Carboxyamidoquinolines: Toward Quantitative Detection of ATP**

The newly prepared fluorescent carboxyamidoquinolines ( 1 – 3 ) and their Zn(II) complexes ( Zn@1-Zn@3 ) were used to bind and sense various phosphate anions utilizing a relay mechanism, in which the Zn(II) ion migrates from the Zn@1-Zn@3 complexes to the phosphate, namely adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP) and pyrophosphate (PPi), a process accompanied by a dramatic change in fluorescence. Zn@1-Zn@3 assemblies interact with adenine nucleotide phosphates while displaying an analyte-specific response. This process was investigated using UV-vis, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopy. It is shown that the different binding selectivity and the corresponding fluorescence response enable differentiation of adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP), adenosine 5’-diphosphate (ADP), pyrophosphate (PPi), and phosphate (Pi). The cross-reactive nature of the carboxyamidoquinolines-Zn(II) sensors in conjunction with linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was utilized in a simple fluorescence chemosensor array that allows for the identification of ATP, ADP, PPi, and Pi from 8 other anions including adenosine 5’-monophosphate (AMP) with 100 % correct classification. Furthermore, the support vector machine algorithm, a machine learning method, allowed for highly accurate quantitation of ATP in the range of 5–100 μM concentration in unknown samples with error <2.5 %.     

Zinc(II) and PPi selective fluorescence OFF-ON-OFF functionality of a chemosensor in physiological conditions

A fluorescent chemosensor based on a quinoline derivative, L(2) (OFF state), selectively senses Zn(2+) by effective chelate-enhanced fluorescence (ON state), which further shows selectivity toward PPi over competing anions like Pi, AMP, and ATP via fluorescence quenching (OFF state) in a 100% aqueous HEPES buffer (pH 7.4). A plausible mode for the selective binding of PPi to 1 has been demonstrated by quantum mechanical density functional theory calculations and high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis.     

Fluorescent sensing of anions with acridinedione based neutral PET chemosensor

Newly synthesised fluorescent chemosensor ADDTU contains the thiourea receptor connected to the acridinedione (ADD) fluorophore via a covalent bond, giving rise to a fluorophore-receptor motif. In this fluorescent chemosensor, the anion recognition takes place at the receptor site which result in the concomitant changes in the photophysical properties of a ADD fluorophore by modulation of photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process. The binding ability of these sensor with the anions F(-), Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), HSO(4)(-), ClO(4)(-), AcO(-), H(2)PO(4)(-) and BF(4)(-) (as their tetrabutylammounium salts) in acetonitrile were investigated using UV-vis, steady state and time-resolved emission techniques. ADDTU system allows for the selective fluorescent sensing of AcO(-), H(2)PO(4)(-) and F(-) over other anions in acetonitrile.     

A highly selective and sensitive fluorescent chemosensor for Zn^2＋

A new selective Zn^2＋ fluorescent chemosensor, o-vanillin-4-ethoxybenzoylhydrazone （1）, was designed and prepared. Free 1 mainly displayed very weak fluorescence at 480 nm upon excitation at 403 nm. It displayed high selectivity for Zn^2＋ and had a 518- fold fluorescent enhancement upon binding of Zn^2＋, while the other cation ions had only little influence on the fluorescence of 1. Mechanism of enhancement of l＇s fluorescence by Zn^2＋ was briefly discussed.     

A macrocyclic piperazine linked extremely Zn selective fluorescent chemosensor with bio-imaging and for H2PO4 sensing

A new macrocyclic fluorescent chemosensor piperazine coupled diimine phenol (PCDP) which forms extremely selective Zn(II) complex and thus builds up the platform for H₂PO₄⁻ (DHP) sensing in mixed aqueous medium, has been designed and synthesized. The binding of PCDP with Zn²⁺ and its displacement by DHP have been supported by DFT studies. The blue fluorescence in the PCDP–Zn complex is useful for bio-imaging. The fluorescence enhancement of PCDP on association with Zn²⁺ ion is quenched sharply in the presence of intracellular DHP.     

A cholic acid-based fluorescent chemosenor for the detection of ATP

A novel ditopic cholic acid-based fluorescent chemosensor for ATP, 1a, was designed and synthesized. Its interactions with phosphates, AMP, ADP, ATP, CTP, GTP, and TTP have been investigated. When ATP was added to a 1:1 aqueous CH3CN solution of the sensor at pH 7.4, a significant decrease in fluorescence of 1a was observed, whereas other guest molecules showed a much smaller effect. The complex between 1a and ATP was confirmed through combined UV, 1H, 13C and 31P NMR spectroscopic methods. The uniqueness of the new sensor is that it binds with ATP 33-124 times more selectively than other nucleotides, as evidenced from the respective binding constants. 1a is a highly sensitive sensing probe; as little as 30 nM ATP can cause 15% fluorescence quenching of the sensor.     

Modular and tunable chemosensor scaffold for divalent zinc

A modular peptide scaffold has been developed for fluorescent sensing of divalent zinc. The signaling component of the chemosensor is the chelation-sensitive fluorophore 8-hydroxy-5-(N,N-dimethylsulfonamido)-2-methylquinoline, which is prepared as the protected amino acid derivative Fmoc-Sox-OH and integrated into peptide sequences. Nineteen synthetic peptides incorporating the signaling element exhibit a range of affinities for Zn(2+) through variation of the type and number of Zn(2+) ligands, ligand arrangement and the beta-turn sequence that acts as a preorganization element between the ligands. The stoichiometry of the peptide-Zn(2+) complexes is evaluated by several criteria. The fluorescence response of these peptides to pH and various important metal ions is reported. Eleven of these sequences form only 1:1 complexes with Zn(2+) and their affinities range from 10 nM to nearly 1 microM. When used in concert, these sensors can provide Zn(2+) concentration information in a valuable range.     

Synthesis of dipicolylamino substituted quinazoline as chemosensor for cobalt(II) recognition based on excited-state intramolecular proton transfer

A new fluorescent chemosensor for sensing Co(II) using di(2-picolyl)amino (DPA) as a recognition group and quinazoline as a reporting group has been synthesized and characterized. The quinazoline derivative contains an intramolecular hydrogen bond, which would undergo excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) at illumination. The fluorescence quenching is attributed to cation-induced inhibition of ESIPT, which constitutes the basis for the determination of Co(II) with the prepared chemosensor. The fluorophore forms 1:1 cobalt(II) complex with the logarithm of apparent dissociation constant log K(a)=6.8. The analytical performance characteristics of the proposed Co(II)-sensitive sensor were investigated. The chemosensor exhibits a linear response toward Co(II) in the concentration range 3.2 x 10(-8) to 1.4 x 10(-6) M, with a working pH range from 7.0 to 9.5 and high selectivity.     

Novel fluorescent chemosensor for Ag^ ＋ based on coumarin fluorophore

A novel chemosensor 1 （CS1） bearing one coumarin and two carbodithioate groups was synthesized and its fluorescent sensing behavior toward metal ions was investigated. Ag^＋ addition to a CH3COCH3/H2O （3：7, v：v） solution of CS1 gave a significantly quenched fluorescence. Other ions including Pb^2＋, Zn^2＋, Cu^2＋, Ca^2＋, Cd^2＋, Co^2＋, Mg^2＋, Mn^2＋, Hg^2＋, Ag^＋, Ni^2＋ induced no or much smaller spectral changes. This constitutes an ON-OFF Ag^＋-selective fluorescent chemosensor.     

Cyclam-methylbenzimidazole: a selective OFF-ON fluorescent sensor for zinc

The coordination properties and the photophysical response of a new cyclam fluorescent probe for Zn(II), [L1H: 1-(benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl]-1,4, 8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane] toward Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) are reported. The stability constants of the corresponding complexes were determined by means of potentiometric measurements in aqueous solution. The fluorescence of L1H was quenched by the presence of Cu(II), and L1H behaves as an OFF-ON sensor for Zn(II) even in the presence of a wide range of biological divalent cations. Furthermore, on addition of successive amounts of Zn(II), the fluorescence emission of L1H increases linearly by a factor of 12. This can be correlated to the efficient Zn(II) binding of L1H and to the participation of all the amine functions in the metal coordination which prevents the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) effect and promotes a good chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effect; this confers to the cyclam probe better sensing properties than the cyclen ionophore.     

水溶液中对Cr~(3+)高选择性荧光化学传感器的研究

设计了一种新型的Cr3+荧光化学传感器.通过荧光光谱滴定实验研究了其对Li+,Na+,K+,Zn2+,Co2+,Ni 2+,Cu2+,Fe2+,Mn2+,Al 3+,Fe3+和Cr3+等不同金属离子的选择性识别能力,结果表明,该传感器在生理pH=7.4的HEPES中对Cr3+表现出较高的选择性,并与Cr3+形成1∶1配合物,主客体相互作用荧光猝灭的络合常数为(7.80±0.34)×103.     

Fluorescent macrocyclic chemosensor for Zn(II) detection at alkaline pH values

ABSTRACT

The new macrocyclic ligand L (28,29-dimethoxy-27-oxa-8,11,14,17,25,26-hexaazatetracyclo[22.2.1.1(2,6).1(19,23)]nonacosa-2,4,6(28),19,21,23(29),24,26(1)-octaene) has been synthesised. It contains a tetramine chain and the 2,5-bis(2-methoxy-3-metyl-phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PPD-OMe) chromophore, acting as coordinating and sensing units, respectively.

The fluorescent emission of L depends on the pH being highly fluorescent at pH = 2 and not emitting from pH >10. The studies highlighted that L is a PET mediated emitting chemosensor, being the PET effect regulated by the degree of the tetraamine protonation.

L coordinates metal ions (Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II)) in water giving rise to an OFF-ON fluorescent response for the presence of Zn(II) ion thus signalling its presence in the medium. This response is particularly notable at pH = 9 allowing to extend the Zn(II) sensing also in the alkaline pH field.     

8-Hydroxyquinoline derivative as a fluorescent chemosensor for zinc ion.

8-Hydroxyquinoline derivative 1 as a fluorescent chemosensor for Zn2+ was synthesized. Because Cd2+ is often found with Zn2+ in the environment and can form fluorescent complexes with chelating fluorophores, a potentially important property of chemosensors for Zn2+ is their selectivity for Zn2+ over Cd2+. The Zn2+ or Cd2+ complexes of 1 gave an emission band from the 1:1 complex, but the fluorescence intensity for Cd2+ was a half of that for Zn2+. Ligand 1 is suited for use as a fluorescent chemosensor for Zn2+.     

A fluorescent chemosensor for copper(II) based on a carboxylic acid-functionalized tris(2,2'-bipyridine)-ruthenium(II) complex.

In this research, bis(2,2'-bipyridine)(4-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine-4'-carboxylic acid)ruthenium(II).2PF(6)- complex (1), was first used as a fluorescent chemosensor to recognize Cu(II) in EtOH/H(2)O (1:1, v/v) solution. The response of the sensor is based on the fluorescence quenching of complex 1 by binding with Cu(II). The analytical performance characteristics of the proposed Cu(II)-sensitive chemosensor were investigated. The sensor can be applied to the quantification of Cu(II) with a linear range covering from 5.0 x 10(-8) to 1.0 x 10(-4) M and a detection limit of 4.2 x 10(-8) M. The experiment results show that the response behavior of 1 to Cu(II) is pH independent in medium condition (pH 4.0 - 8.0), and show excellent selectivity for Cu(II) over other transition metal cations.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, insulin-enhancment, and competitive DNA binding activity of a new Zn(II) complex with a vitamin B6 derivative--a new fluorescence probe for Zn(II)

This paper describes the activity of a Schiff base ligand, derived from pyridoxal, as a promising fluorescence probe for biologically important Zn(II) ion sensing. This is the first report of a vitamin based ligand as a fluorescent probe for sensing Zn(II) ions. The Schiff base H(2)pydmedpt, derived from the condensation of pyridoxal (pyd) and N,N-bis[3-aminopropyl]methylamine (medpt), exhibits around a 325-fold increase in fluorescence quantum yield due to zinc triggered fluorescence switching. The response is specific for Zn(II) ions, and remains unaffected by the presence of alkali and alkaline earth metals but is suppressed to varying degrees by transition metal ions. The corresponding Zn(II)-complex, [Zn(pydmedpt], is isolated. The DFT optimized structure of the complex is compatible with elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, FT-IR, electronic and NMR spectra. The isolated complex, having pK(a) values of ～5.3 and ～5, is a moderate intercalator for DNA with an apparent binding constant of 2.3 × 10(6) M(-1). The complex also shows insulin-enhancing activity at par with other reported complexes, with an IC(50) value of 0.65 with respect to ZnSO(4).     

Bis-azamacrocyclic anthracene as a fluorescent chemosensor for cations in aqueous solution

A bis-azamacrocyclic anthracene (L2), which has two a 12-membered cyclic tetraamine (cyclen) connected through a 9,10-dimethylanthracene spacer, has been synthesized as a new fluorescent chemosensor for detection of pH and metal cations in aqueous solution (cyclen = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, L2 = 9,10-bis(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1-ylmethyl)anthracene). The fluorescence response of L2 has been studied in comparison to that of the previously reported monoazamacrocyclic anthracene (L1 = 1-(9-anthrylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane). Plots of the fluorescence intensity of L2 against pH demonstrate a sigmoidal curve with pKa 7.4, which is lower than that of L1 (8.3). Potentiometric titration reveals that the increase in the L2 fluorescence requires protonation of both cyclen rings, thus resulting in the lower pKa value. L2 demonstrates impressive fluorescence response against metal cations. At basic pH, upon addition of Zn2+ or Cd2+, L1 leads to an increase in the fluorescence intensity with a 1:1 metal-intensity response. L2, however, shows a 2:1 response to Zn2+, while showing a 1:1 response to Cd2+. At neutral pH, L1 fluorescence decreases upon addition of Zn2+ or Cd2+ because of a formation of metal-anthracene pi complex. L2, however, still demonstrates a Zn2+-induced increase in intensity with a 2:1 response, while no change in intensity is observed upon Cd2+ addition. The obtained findings suggest potential utilities of L2 as a new type fluorescent chemosensor for the detection of cations in aqueous solution.