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Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Author Spotlight: Exploring Cellular Zinc Regulation Through ZnT1 Functionality
Published on: June 2, 2023
A mitochondria-targeted ratiometric two-photon fluorescent probe for biological zinc ions detection
Peng Ning1, Jiacheng Jiang1, Longchun Li1
1Department of Chemistry, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; Center for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Material, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.
Abstract:
A mitochondria-targeted ratiometric two-photon fluorescent probe (Mito-MPVQ) for biological zinc ions detection was developed based on quinolone platform. Mito-MPVQ showed large red shifts (68 nm) and selective ratiometric signal upon Zn(2+) binding. The ratio of emission intensity (I488 nm/I420 nm) increases dramatically from 0.45 to 3.79 (ca. 8-fold). NMR titration and theoretical calculation confirmed the binding of Mito-MPVQ and Zn(2+). Mito-MPVQ also exhibited large two-photon absorption cross sections (150 GM) at nearly 720 nm and insensitivity to pH within the biologically relevant pH range. Cell imaging indicated that Mito-MPVQ could efficiently located in mitochondria and monitor mitochondrial Zn(2+) under two-photon excitation with low cytotoxicity.
