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Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Genetically-encoded Molecular Probes to Study G Protein-coupled Receptors
Published on: September 13, 2013
A general strategy to develop cell membrane fluorescent probes with location- and target-specific fluorogenicities: a
Fei Deng1, Limin Liu2, Qinglong Qiao3
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi 343009, China and CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China. qqlqiao@dicp.ac.cn zcxu@dicp.ac.cn.
Abstract:
We reported fluorescent probes to image Zn2+ with plasma membrane-specific and Zn2+-specific fluorogenicities. The probes contained hydrophobic alkyl chains as membrane-anchored domains and hydrophilic zinc sensor ZTRS, and aggregated to display quenched fluorescence. Cells dissolved the aggregates and the liberated probes were dispersed on the outside of the cell plasma membrane. Aggregates that did not bind to the cell membrane still exhibited aggregation-induced fluorescence quenching after complexing with zinc ions, while probes anchored on the membrane surface exhibited a fluorescence-enhanced response upon recognition of zinc ions.

