A turn-on two-photon fluorescent probe for ATP and ADP

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Chemical Biology
• Molecular Imaging

Background:

• Nucleoside phosphates like ATP and ADP are crucial for cellular energy and signaling.
• Developing selective and sensitive probes for these molecules is vital for understanding cellular processes.
• Existing probes often face challenges with specificity, cell permeability, or imaging conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel two-photon probe for detecting nucleoside phosphates.
• To investigate the probe's fluorescence response to various anions, particularly ATP and ADP.
• To evaluate the probe's utility for live-cell imaging of ATP and ADP.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of an acedan derivative incorporating Zn(II)-dipicolinic acid (DPA).
• Spectroscopic analysis to determine fluorescence properties and selectivity.
• Cell-based assays to assess membrane permeability and two-photon imaging capabilities.

Main Results:

• The developed Zn(II)-DPA probe exhibits enhanced fluorescence specifically towards ATP and ADP.
• The probe demonstrates selectivity in the presence of competing anions like AMP at physiological pH (7.4).
• The probe is successfully demonstrated to be cell-permeable, allowing for direct two-photon imaging in live cells.

Conclusions:

• The novel acedan-based Zn(II)-DPA probe is a promising tool for detecting ATP and ADP.
• Its cell permeability and selective fluorescence make it suitable for real-time cellular imaging.
• This probe facilitates advanced studies of cellular energy metabolism and signaling pathways.