A fluorescent probe for monitoring nitric oxide production using a novel detection concept

A fluorescent probe using a novel 'spin exchange' concept was developed for monitoring nitric oxide (NO) production. The probe is composed of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) labeled with acridine and N-dithiocarboxysarcosine (DTCS)-Fe(II) complex. When the non-fluorescent acridine-TEMPO was incubated with DTCS-Fe(II) complex in buffer solution, the nitroxide radical in the acridine-TEMPO interacted with the Fe(II) through a redox interaction. This interaction recovered the fluorescence based on the acridine moiety. The addition of an NO-releasing reagent caused a fluorescent decrease of the probe due to the irreversible binding of NO to the Fe(II), and the amount of the fluorescent decrease strictly corresponded to that of released NO. Using this probe, less than 100 nM of NO can be detected. This probe system is not only useful for monitoring direct production of NO in an aqueous solution, but is also interesting as a basic concept by which to construct new types of NO fluorescent probes.