Development of a fluorescent chemosensor for the detection of kynurenine

Kynurenine, a metabolite of tryptophan, is known to contribute to cancer progression when overproduced. A method for facile fluorescent sensing of kynurenine using sensor 1 has been developed. When bound at low pH, sensor 1 undergoes a very large bathochromic shift because kynurenine extends the conjugation of the fluorophore. This unusual mechanism of activation provides a 390-fold fluorescence enhancement that is very specific to kynurenine and a wavelength of fluorescence that extends into the red.