Mitochondria-Targeted Reaction-Based Fluorescent Probe for Hydrogen Sulfide

Area of Science:

• Chemical Biology
• Molecular Imaging
• Mitochondrial Research

Background:

• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a crucial signaling molecule in biological systems.
• Mitochondria are key organelles involved in cellular respiration and H2S metabolism.
• Developing selective probes for H2S in mitochondria is essential for understanding its biological roles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel mitochondria-targeting, turn-on fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide detection.
• To characterize the probe's sensing properties, including sensitivity, selectivity, and cytotoxicity.
• To demonstrate the probe's utility for intracellular imaging of H2S in living systems.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a naphthalimide-based scaffold functionalized with a 7-nitro-1,2,3-benzoxadiazole amine moiety.
• Evaluation of the probe's response to hydrogen sulfide via thiolysis reaction, leading to fluorescence enhancement.
• Assessment of probe selectivity, detection limit, cytotoxicity, and performance in intracellular imaging experiments.

Main Results:

• The developed probe ('probe 1') demonstrated a significant 68-fold fluorescence enhancement upon reaction with H2S.
• Probe 1 exhibited a low detection limit of 2.46 μM and good selectivity for H2S over other reactive species.
• The probe showed low cytotoxicity and successfully performed intracellular imaging of H2S in living cells.

Conclusions:

• A novel mitochondria-targeting 'turn-on' fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide has been successfully developed.
• Probe 1 possesses excellent sensing properties, making it suitable for sensitive and selective H2S detection.
• This probe holds promise for investigating the biological functions and pathological implications of H2S in vivo.