Fluorogenic bimane substrates with dabsyl group for endopeptidases; chymotrypsin, collagenase and thermolysin

It was found that the fluorescence of 9,10-dioxa-syn-3,4,6,7-tetramethylbimane (bimane) can be quenched in the presence of dimethylaminoazobenzensulfonyl (Dabsyl) group. New combination of bimane (fluorophor) and dabsyl group (quencher) was applied to the syntheses of intramolecularly quenched fluorogenic substrates for hydrolytic enzymes. Bimane peptides containing dabsyl group were prepared, and were shown to be useful fluorogenic substrates for the assay of endopeptidases such as chymotrypsin, collagenase and thermolysin.