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Cascade Reaction-Based, Near-Infrared Multiphoton Fluorescent Probe for the Selective Detection of Cysteine.

Rasika R Nawimanage¹, Bijeta Prasai¹, Suraj U Hettiarachchi¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-1804, United States.

Analytical Chemistry

|May 17, 2017

Summary

A new fluorescent probe, DCM-Cys, enables sensitive and selective detection of cysteine in living cells. Its red-energy fluorescence, activated by near-infrared light, allows clear visualization of cysteine with a high signal-to-background ratio.

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Genetically-encoded Molecular Probes to Study G Protein-coupled Receptors

Genetically-encoded Molecular Probes to Study G Protein-coupled Receptors

Published on: September 13, 2013

Area of Science:

Chemical Biology
Molecular Imaging
Biochemistry

Background:

Cell-permeable profluorogenic probes are crucial for detecting cellular events and analytes.
Activatable probes must respond rapidly and selectively to analytes, producing fluorescent reporters across a broad energy range.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe a novel probe, DCM-Cys, for the selective detection and visualization of cysteine.
To demonstrate the probe's ability to generate red-energy fluorescence upon reaction with cysteine.

Main Methods:

Development of the DCM-Cys probe featuring a dicyanomethylene-4H-pyran (DCM) reporter linked via a self-eliminating benzyl alcohol-carbamate group.
Utilizing two-photon, near-infrared excitation for activating the probe's fluorescence.
Assessing probe selectivity and sensitivity through in vitro assays with various thiols and biological interfering agents.

Main Results:

DCM-Cys preferentially reacts with cysteine, forming a DCM reporter with red-shifted excitation (480 nm) and emission (640 nm) wavelengths.
The probe enables visualization of cysteine within living human cells with high signal-to-background ratio.
Demonstrated selective, nanomolar-level in vitro cysteine detection with minimal response to other thiols.

Conclusions:

The molecular design of DCM-Cys and its DCM reporter facilitate selective and sensitive cysteine detection.
The probe's red-shifted fluorescence and efficient activation allow for effective intracellular cysteine imaging.
DCM-Cys represents a valuable tool for studying cysteine-related biological processes in live cells.