Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 8, 2025

Real Time Monitoring of Intracellular Bile Acid Dynamics Using a Genetically Encoded FRET-based Bile Acid Sensor
09:21

Real Time Monitoring of Intracellular Bile Acid Dynamics Using a Genetically Encoded FRET-based Bile Acid Sensor

Published on: January 4, 2016

10.3K

A molecular-logic gate for COX-2 and NAT based on conformational and structural changes: visualizing the progression

Yuehua Chen1, Yuzhu Wang2, Yonggang Yang1

  • 1Henan Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions , Ministry of Education , Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecules and Drug Innovation , School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , School of Physics , Henan Normal University , Xinxiang 453007 , P. R. China .

Chemical Science
|September 21, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Molecular-logic gates derived from naphthalene imide-indole (IAN) derivatives enable precise visualization of liver lesion boundaries. These IAN molecules act as probes, emitting distinct colors to differentiate hepatopathic tissues during surgery.

Area of Science:

  • Chemical Biology
  • Molecular Imaging
  • Surgical Oncology

Background:

  • Accurate identification of hepatopathic tissue boundaries is crucial for effective surgical resection.
  • Molecular-logic gates offer potential for precise signal correlation between molecular inputs and outputs.
  • Developing targeted probes for visualizing diseased tissue remains a significant challenge in liver surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate naphthalene imide-indole (IAN) derivatives as molecular-logic gates for differentiating hepatopathic lesion boundaries.
  • To investigate the enzyme-responsive signaling mechanism of IAN derivatives for targeted imaging.
  • To assess the in vivo applicability of IAN derivatives in distinguishing various stages of liver disease.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis and characterization of naphthalene imide-indole (IAN) derivatives.
  • Evaluation of IAN derivatives as molecular-logic gates responsive to hepatopathy-related enzymes (COX-2 and NAT).
  • In vitro and in vivo testing of IAN derivatives for differential visualization of liver lesions under UV light.

Main Results:

  • IAN derivatives successfully functioned as molecular-logic gates, producing distinct color signals (green, cyan, blue) based on enzyme activity.
  • Enzyme-induced conformational and structural changes in IAN derivatives mediated the observed signal outputs.
  • IAN derivatives effectively distinguished boundaries of various hepatopathic lesions, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, in tissue samples by naked eye.

Conclusions:

  • Naphthalene imide-indole derivatives serve as effective molecular-logic gates for visualizing hepatopathic lesion boundaries.
  • The enzyme-responsive signaling mechanism of IAN provides a novel approach for differential diagnosis in liver disease.
  • IAN derivatives demonstrate significant potential for intraoperative guidance in liver surgery.

More Related Videos

Analysis of Liver Microenvironment During Early Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Zebrafish09:27

Analysis of Liver Microenvironment During Early Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Zebrafish

Published on: April 1, 2021

3.8K
A New Clarification Method to Visualize Biliary Degeneration During Liver Metamorphosis in Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus07:03

A New Clarification Method to Visualize Biliary Degeneration During Liver Metamorphosis in Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus

Published on: June 6, 2014

14.1K

Related Concept Videos

Cooperative Allosteric Transitions01:58

Cooperative Allosteric Transitions

2.6K
Cooperative Allosteric Transitions01:58

Cooperative Allosteric Transitions

2.9K
Cooperative Allosteric Transitions01:58

Cooperative Allosteric Transitions

Cooperative allosteric transitions can occur in multimeric proteins, where each subunit of the protein has its own ligand-binding site. When a ligand binds to any of these subunits, it triggers a conformational change that affects the binding sites in the other subunits; this can change the affinity of the other sites for their respective ligands. The ability of the protein to change the shape of its binding site is attributed to the presence of a mix of flexible and stable segments in the...
8.5K
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
3.5K
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors01:27

Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
3.6K
Ligand Binding and Linkage00:49

Ligand Binding and Linkage

3.9K