A near-infrared fluorogenic probe for nuclear thiophenol detection.

Area of Science:

• Chemical Biology
• Molecular Imaging
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Thiophenol is a crucial biological thiol with implications in various physiological and pathological processes.
• Developing specific and sensitive probes for thiophenol detection is essential for biological research.
• Existing methods for thiophenol detection may lack specificity or in vivo applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel nucleus-targeted fluorescent probe for near-infrared (NIR) imaging of thiophenol.
• To evaluate the probe's efficacy in detecting thiophenol in live biological systems, including cells, zebrafish, and mice.

Main Methods:

• The probe, named AQD, was synthesized based on the thiolysis of dinitrophenyl ethers.
• AQD utilizes a bisalkylaminoanthraquinone moiety as the fluorophore.
• The probe's nucleus-targeting ability and fluorescence properties were investigated.

Main Results:

• AQD demonstrated efficient nucleus-targeting in live cells.
• The probe exhibited strong fluorescence in the near-infrared region, suitable for in vivo imaging.
• AQD successfully mapped thiophenol distribution in live cells, zebrafish, and mice.

Conclusions:

• AQD is a potent nucleus-targeted fluorescent probe for NIR imaging of thiophenol.
• This probe offers a valuable tool for studying thiophenol's biological roles in complex living organisms.
• The development of AQD advances the field of molecular imaging for thiol detection.