Comparison Between Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy and Time-Resolved Fluorescence Anisotropy as Illustrated with a Fluorescent Dextran Conjugate

The motional properties of rhodamine green alone and conjugated to 10-kDa dextran have been studied by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy (TRFA). With FCS the translational diffusion times of the fluorescent particles can be determined, which are directly proportional to the shear viscosity as shown in aqueous solutions of different sucrose concentrations. With TRFA the rotational correlation times of the fluorescent particles can be determined. TRFA experiments in the case of fluorescent dextran reveal a distinct restricted internal motion of the fluorescent probe independent of the slower overall rotation of the polysaccharide. The fast depolarization is most likely due to internal motion and not to energy transfer between different rhodamine green molecules in the same dextran, since a higher viscosity of the solvent increases the correlation time for internal motion proportionally. FCS and TRFA yield complementary information in the sense that the correlation time for overall dextran rotation can be accurately determined from the translational diffusion coefficient.     

Analysis of Quantum Rod Diffusion by Polarized Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

To measure the polarization dependence of fluorescent probes, a confocal-microscope-based polarized fluorescence correlation spectroscopy system was developed, and the polarization dependence on the rotational diffusion of well-defined quantum rods (Qrods) was investigated and characterized. The rotational diffusion region of the Qrods was observed over a time range of less than 10^?5 s in a water solution, and the rotational diffusion parameters were extracted using a rotational diffusion model in which the viscosity of the solution media was varied. Our work demonstrated that polarized fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is useful for investigating both the rotational and translational diffusion of fluorescent probes.     

荧光光谱法研究四苯基-锌金属卟啉与蛋白质的相互作用机理

利用荧光光度法研究了meso-四(4-羟基苯基)卟啉-锌金属卟啉(TPP-Zn)与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)之间的结合反应。TPP-Zn对于BSA有荧光猝灭作用,基于TPP-Zn对BSA内源荧光的猝灭机理,测定了两者之间在不同温度下的结合常数,温度在27,35和42 ℃时,利用荧光猝灭法测得的结合常数K分别为1.521×106 L·mol-1,7.048×105 L·mol-1,1.473×105 L·mol-1,各温度下的最大扩散碰撞猝灭速率常数K_q均大于2.0×1010 L·mol-1·s-1,由此判定猝灭类型为静态猝灭。根据Frster非辐射能量转移理论,确定了TPP-Zn与BSA之间的能量转移效率E,能量给体(BSA)与受体(TPP-Zn)之间的结合距离r=3.72<7 nm,符合非辐射能量转移条件。依据热力学参数ΔG<0,ΔH<0和ΔS>0确定了TPP-Zn与BSA之间的作用力主要是静电引力。     

Interaction of the Iron(II) Cage Complexes With Proteins: Protein Fluorescence Quenching Study

Interaction of the iron(II) mono- and bis-clathrochelates with bovine serum albumin (BSA), β-lactoglobulin, lysozyme and insulin was studied by the steady-state and time-resolved fluorescent spectroscopies. These cage complexes do not make significant impact on fluorescent properties of β-lactoglobulin, lysozyme and insulin. At the same time, the monoclathrochelates strongly quench a fluorescence intensity of BSA and substantially decrease its excited state lifetime due to their binding to this protein. This occurs due to the excitation energy transfer from a tryptophan residue to a cage molecule or/and to the change of the tryptophan nearest environment caused by either clathrochelate binding or an alteration of the BSA conformation. The effect of the iron(II) bis-clathrochelate on BSA fluorescence is much weaker as compared to its monomacrobicyclic analogs as a result of an increase in its size.     

Interaction between the end groups and the main chain of conjugated polymers by time-resolved EPR and fluorescence spectroscopy

ABSTRACT

Interaction between a zinc porphyrin (ZnPor) as the end-group and poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-2,7-vinylene) (PFV) as the main chain in a porphyrin end-modified fluorescent conjugated polymer, ZnPFV, was studied by time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and fluorescence spectroscopy. While fluorescence from the PFV part of ZnPFV showed a spectral profile almost identical to that of a PFV oligomer without end-modification, the emission spectrum of the ZnPor part exhibited a much broader profile compared to that of the reference zinc porphyrin monomer. Based on the analysis of lifetimes and quantum yields, it was found that radiative rate constant of the ZnPor part was enhanced by nearly three times. The observed unusual enhancement in the radiative rate constant was rationalised in terms of a partial π-conjugation between the end group and the main chain, as a result of co-planarisation in fluid solution. On the other hand, the time-resolved EPR spectrum of ZnPFV at 100?K basically showed a similar spectral pattern to that of the reference zinc porphyrin, but with significant differences in zero-field spitting parameters and initial population ratios. The π-system of the excited triplet state is deduced to deviate from D_4h symmetry in the end zinc porphyrin groups. The obtained results show that interaction of the porphyrin end group with the main chain of the polymer significantly influences the excited singlet state properties of the porphyrin, while its triplet state properties were affected to a lesser extent.     

The Influence of Solvent Viscosity on the Fluorescence Decay and Time-Resolved Anisotropy of Green Fluorescent Protein

This report describes fluorescence decay and time-resolved anisotropy studies of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in various environments. The addition of glucose and fructose, NaCl, or polyethylene glycol changes the viscosity of the medium surrounding the GFP. Both the time-resolved anisotropy and the fluorescence decay of GFP are measured and it is shown that only the time-resolved anisotropy of GFP is affected by the viscosity, but not its fluorescence decay.     

Probing the Sol-Gel Transition in SiO2 Hydrogels—A New Application of Near-Infrared Fluorescence

Picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy has enabled us to use a near-infrared fluorescent dye to probe the sol-gel transition in SiO₂ hydrogels, polymerized from sulfuric acid and sodium silicate solution, for the first time. We compare the microviscosity surrounding the probe during the sol-to-gel transition as predicted by two alternative models which both describe the decay of fluorescence anisotropy well. The results for one rotational time and a residual anisotropy imply that macrogelation of the sol leads to relatively small changes in the mobility of the fluorophore caused by small changes in microviscosity, but after much longer times, e.g., 1500 min, the mobility of the fluorophore decreases, reflecting a rapid increase in microviscosity of over several orders in magnitude. In sharp contrast, analysis of the anisotropy in terms of two rotational times predicts little change in microviscosity over the whole polymerization process.     

Characterization of a confocal microscope for time-resolved photon counting fluorescence

A confocal microscope setup is developed for time-resolved fluorescence measurements. It is added to a traditional cuvette time-resolved setup, with a pumped Ti-Sa light source. The temporal resolution of 37 ps (FWHM) is not degraded, in comparison with the cuvette setup also described. These setups allow both decay lifetime and anisotropy relaxation time determination. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is used to determine the observation point size. When associated with the calcium probe calcium green, calcium concentration in single cells can be determined in 10 ms by simultaneous acquisition of early and late fluorescence photons.     

Fluorescence quenching of water-soluble porphyrins by molecular oxygen

Quenching by molecular oxygen of excited states of water-soluble anionic 5,10,15,20-tetarkis-(4-sulfonatophenyl)-porphyrin (H₂TSPP) and cationic 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-N-methylpyridyl)-porphyrin (H₂TMPyP) in aqueous ethanol was investigated. It was found that fluorescence quenching of dissociated (in water) and undissociated (in ethanol) forms of H₂TSPP was diffusion-controlled and occurred at distances close to contact ones (0.5–0.8 nm). Fluorescence of the dissociated form of H₂TSPP was quenched with rate constant k_S that was 1.7 times greater than that of the undissociated form. It was proposed that this was due to a decrease in the porphyrin molecule oxidation potential on going from the undissociated to the dissociated form. It was shown that the most probable reason for the dramatic increase in the rate constant of the fluorescence quenching of H₂TMPyP in water compared with that of H₂TSPP was the low-lying intramolecular charge-transfer state typical of H₂TMPyP. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 2, pp. 170–176, March–April, 2008.     

二噻吩乙烯桥连-环糊精二聚体光致变色性质

合成了以可光控的二噻吩乙烯分子为桥连单元的β-环糊精二聚体作为潜在的可调受体化合物．该化合物显示了显著的光致变色特性，即以254 nm的紫外光照射，开环体会立即发生光环化反应生成粉红色的闭环体；而有色的闭环体用大于460 nm的可见光照射后又会发生开环反应．同时还研究了正向光环化反应的反应动力学．此外，还以四苯磺基卟啉（TSPP）为客体化合物进行了荧光滴定，研究开/闭环体之间包合能力的差异，发现闭环体对TSPP的包合稳定常数是开环体的5倍．     

Effects of Refractive Index and Viscosity on Fluorescence and Anisotropy Decays of Enhanced Cyan and Yellow Fluorescent Proteins

The fluorescence lifetime strongly depends on the immediate environment of the fluorophore. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements of the enhanced forms of ECFP and EYFP in water–glycerol mixtures were performed to quantify the effects of the refractive index and viscosity on the fluorescence lifetimes of these proteins. The experimental data show for ECFP and EYFP two fluorescence lifetime components: one short lifetime of about 1 ns and a longer lifetime of about 3.7 ns of ECFP and for EYFP 3.4. The fluorescence of ECFP is very heterogeneous, which can be explained by the presence of two populations: a conformation (67% present) where the fluorophore is less quenched than in the other conformation (33% present). The fluorescence decay of EYFP is much more homogeneous and the amplitude of the short fluorescence lifetime is about 5%. The fluorescence anisotropy decays show that the rotational correlation time of both proteins scales with increasing viscosity of the solvent similarly as shown earlier for GFP. The rotational correlation times are identical for ECFP and EYFP, which can be expected since both proteins have the same shape and size. The only difference observed is the slightly lower initial anisotropy for ECFP as compared to the one of EYFP.     

Exploration of twisted intramolecular charge transfer fluorescence properties of trans-2-[4-(dimethylamino)styryl]benzothiazole to characterize the protein–surfactant aggregates

The characterization of aggregates of an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) in various regions of binding isotherm of SDS to BSA with increasing concentration of the former have been done by exploring the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) fluorescence properties of a probe, trans-2-[4-(dimethylamino)styryl] benzothiazole (DMASBT). The TICT fluorescence, steady-state fluorescence anisotropy and time-resolved fluorescence of DMASBT, and the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) study reveal the characteristics of the native protein as well as the protein–surfactant aggregates viz., micropolarity, microviscosity, locations of probe, denaturation of protein in various regions of binding isotherm, and also the validation of necklace-bead model. The changes in the polarity and the viscosity of the microenvironment around the probe from one binding region of SDS to other have been reflected in the highly sensitive fluorescence properties of DMASBT. The study of FRET between the DMASBT and the tryptophan residue (Trp) of BSA has identified the locations of the probe molecule in the native protein as well as that in various BSA–SDS aggregates. The energy transfer efficiency decreases, whereas the distance between the DMASBT and the Trp residue increases with increasing concentration of SDS. The significant change in the conformations of protein molecules during the non-cooperative binding region of SDS is evidenced by the fluorescence anisotropic behavior of DMASBT in the same region.     

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer: A promising tool for investigation of the interaction between 1-anthracene sulphonate and serum albumins

This present investigation has revealed that steady state as well as time-resolved fluorescence techniques can serve as highly sensitive monitors for exploring the interaction of fluorescent probe 1-anthracene sulphonate (1-AS) with model transport proteins, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA).We have focused on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between excited tryptophan in transport proteins to 1-AS, for the study of relaxation dynamics of biological molecules.     

An investigation on fluorescence quenching of certain porphyrins by colloidal CdS

Certain porphyrin derivatives namely meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP), meso-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP), meso-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TSPP) were examined as sensitizers for colloidal CdS. The interaction of these porphyrins and colloidal CdS were studied by absorption, infrared, steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and transient absorption techniques. The apparent association constants (K_app) resulting from adsorption of porphyrins on CdS surface were calculated from both absorption and fluorescence studies and they agree well. Using all the spectroscopic measurements we confirmed that the interaction between porphyrins and colloidal CdS occurs through ground state complex formation and the quenching follows static mechanism.     

Extrinsic fluorescence probe study of human serum albumin using Nile red

Nile red bound to human serum albumin (HSA) shows an order of magnitude increase in the probe's fluorescence intensity. Here, we report on the fluorescence characteristics of the probe-protein complex in Trizma buffer (pH 7.1), urea, guanidine hydrochloride, and AOT/isooctane/buffer reverse micelles using both steady—state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. With a view to illustrating the use of extrinsic probe fluorescence spectroscopy in protein research, we demonstrate that protein unfolding can be observed through measurements of the probe's time-resolved anisotropy and steady-state fluorescence spectrum. Moreover, this shows that thermal unfolding is fundamentally different from using denaturant, with respect to changes in both the nanosecond diffusional rotation of the probe at intermediate stages and in the denatured protein's structure. Also, the large Stokes shift of Nile red allows the changes in the environment of the probe-protein complex in reverse micelles of varying waterpool size to be easily identified in the steady-state fluorescence. This was not seen in earlier work exploiting the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of HSA and further demonstrates the complementary information that extrinsic fluorescence probe studies can offer protein science. We discuss the complex acrylamide quenching characteristics of Nile red bound to HSA in terms of the possibility of at least two binding sites for the probe and the effect of acrylamide on the probe-protein structure at very high quencher concentrations.     

A Statistical Analysis of Fluorescence Correlation Data

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is a relatively recent technique in which the diffusion coefficient of fluorescently labeled molecules can be determined. The change in diffusion behavior when these molecules interact with others can also be used to study interactions in solution. A new statistical method is proposed to analyze FCS measurements that cannot be evaluated with a classical autocorrelation function, which is normally used to analyze FCS data. It applies to binding studies where one of the interacting particles has a much brighter fluorescence intensity with respect to the other, which causes high fluorescence bursts whenever these molecules are detected. This biases the autocorrelation function, making it in most cases impossible to use this function as a fitting equation. Here, a statistical approach is used to quantify the amount of fluorescence found in bursts, thereby enabling to perform binding studies in cases where the fluorescence per molecule of both interacting species differs greatly. The method is demonstrated on a system of known composition, making it a promising tool for future FCS measurements.     

New Perspectives of Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

The principle of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy is outlined. The technique has been applied to a mutant of the well-known green fluorescent protein. A comparative study has been made with time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy. The latter experiment shows that the fluorophore is rigidly bound inside the protein matrix follows the rotation of the whole protein and does not show any fast restricted motion. It is evident from fluorescence correlation spectroscopy that some excited-state reaction plays a role, since the autocorrelation traces show a significant effect on the incident laser power. Other potential applications of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy are presented as taken from very recent publications.     

The New Fluorescent Membrane Probe Ahba: A Comparative Study with the Largely Used Laurdan

Lipid bilayers have been largely used as model systems for biological membranes. Hence, their structures, and alterations caused on them by biological active molecules, have been the subject of many studies. Accordingly, fluorescent probes incorporated into lipid bilayers have been extensively used for characterizing lipid bilayer fluidity and/or polarity. However, for the proper analysis of the alterations undergone by a membrane, a comprehensive knowledge of the fluorescent properties of the probe is fundamental. Therefore, the present work compares fluorescent properties of a relative new fluorescent membrane probe, 2-amino-N-hexadecyl-benzamide (Ahba), with the largely used probe 6-dodecanoyl-N,N-dimethyl-2-naphthylamine (Laurdan), using both static and time resolved fluorescence. Both Ahba and Laurdan have the fluorescent moiety close to the bilayer surface; Ahba has a rather small fluorescent moiety, which was shown to be very sensitive to the bilayer surface pH. The main goal was to point out the fluorescent properties of each probe that are most sensitive to structural alterations on a lipid bilayer. The two probes were incorporated into bilayers of the well-studied zwitterionic lipid dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC), which exhibits a gel-fluid transition around 23 °C. The system was monitored between 5 and 50 °C, hence allowing the study of the two different lipid structures, the gel and fluid bilayer phases, and the transition between them. As it is known, the fluorescent emission spectrum of Laurdan is highly sensitive to the bilayer gel-fluid transition, whereas the Ahba fluorescence spectrum was found to be insensitive to changes in bilayer structure and polarity, which are known to happen at the gel-fluid transition. However, both probes monitor the bilayer gel-fluid transition through fluorescence anisotropy measurements. With time-resolved fluorescence, it was possible to show that bilayer structural variations can be monitored by Laurdan excited state lifetimes changes, whereas Ahba lifetimes were found to be insensitive to bilayer structural modifications. Through anisotropy time decay measurements, both probes could monitor structural bilayer changes, but the limiting anisotropy was found to be a better parameter than the rotational correlation time. It is interesting to have in mind that the relatively small fluorophore of Ahba (o-Abz) could possibly be bound to a phospholipid hydrocarbon chain, not disturbing much the bilayer packing and being a sensitive probe for the bilayer core.     

Fluorescence anisotropy decay study of self-association of bacterial luciferase intermediates

The fluorescence dynamics parameters of the fluorescent transient flavin-luciferase species from the typesVibrio fischeri andPhotobacterium leiognathi are presented. The fluorescence anisotropy decay is a single exponential function for both types. The correlation time is 70 ns for theP. leiognathi fluorescent transient intermediate (2°C, aqueous buffer, pH 7.0), consistent with the rotational correlation time of the luciferase macromolecule (77 kD) to which the flavin fluorophore is rigidly attached. In contrast, for theV. fischeri species the observed correlation time for the anisotropy decay function is 133 ns. This suggests that protein self-association occurs in theV. fischeri case and this is confirmed by filtration, where the fluorescent transient fromV. fischeri does not pass through a 100,000 molecular weight cutoff membrane, whereas theP. leiognathi species does. The filtration method also demonstrates self-association in the luciferase peroxyflavin and photoflavin fromV. fischeri. A monomer-dimer equilibrium also explains the previously reported high correlation times for theV. harveyi luciferase-flavin species. It is proposed that the self-association competes with the lumazine protein interaction in the bioluminescence reaction.     

新型羧酸卟啉锌(Ⅱ)配合物与人血清蛋白的作用

卟啉是一种潜在有效的光动力治疗癌症的光敏剂,部分已用于临床实验中。人血清蛋白(HSA)是药物的运输载体,详细研究两者的相互作用对于阐述卟啉类药物的药代动力学行为具有重要的意义。合成了一种新型水溶性羧酸锌(Ⅱ)卟啉配合物(2-Zn),并通过紫外可见吸收光谱、荧光光谱、圆二色(CD)光谱和分子对接模拟研究了其与人血清蛋白(HSA)的相互作用。结果表明：2-Zn以静态猝灭的方式猝灭了HSA的内源荧光,通过计算得到其与HSA在298和310 K下相互作用的猝灭常数分别为1.96×104和1.37×104 L·mol-1、结合常数分别为1.93×104和1.50×104 L·mol-1、结合位点数均为1,两者间的结合作用力以静电作用为主,同时也存在氢键和疏水作用。位点竞争实验表明2-Zn主要结合在位点Ⅱ处;根据Forster非辐射能量理论得到两者的结合距离和能量转移效率分别为4.01 nm和0.163。紫外吸收光谱,同步荧光和CD光谱显示2-Zn与HSA的相互作用影响了HSA 的构象,表现为α-螺旋的含量降低;分子对接模拟结果表明2-Zn通过疏水、静电和氢键作用嵌入HSA分子的亚结构域IIIA(site Ⅱ)的疏水腔内,与位点竞争实验和热力学判据所得的结果相一致。