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Glutathione displacement assay based on a fluorescent Au(I) complex
Shinae Lee1,2, Seunga Heo2, Jihwan Park3,4
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea. odds2@yonsei.ac.kr.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|July 12, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a novel fluorescent probe for detecting glutathione (GSH) in living cells. This tool offers rapid, non-destructive imaging, aiding in understanding GSH
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Chemical Biology
- Molecular Imaging
Background:
- Glutathione (GSH) is crucial for cellular redox homeostasis and physiological functions.
- Understanding GSH-dependent mechanisms is limited by a lack of effective detection tools.
- Fluorescence imaging offers a rapid, non-destructive method for GSH detection in vivo.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel fluorescent probe for sensitive and rapid detection of glutathione.
- To investigate the chemical mechanism underlying the probe's response to GSH.
- To demonstrate the probe's utility in biological systems for distinguishing GSH levels.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a linear, homoleptic Au(I) complex with 1,3-diphenylbenzimidazolium carbene ligands.
- Characterization of the probe's fluorescence turn-on response to GSH.
- Evaluation of the probe's response time and mechanism (ligand displacement).
- Application of the probe to differentiate GSH levels in normal and senescent preadipocytes.
Main Results:
- A fluorescent Au(I) complex probe exhibiting a fluorescence turn-on response to GSH was successfully developed.
- The probe demonstrated a rapid response time of only a few seconds.
- The rapid response is attributed to GSH-induced displacement of the carbene ligand via inner-sphere coordination.
- The probe successfully discriminated between varying GSH levels in normal and senescent preadipocytes, showcasing biological utility.
Conclusions:
- A novel Au(I) complex-based fluorescent probe enables rapid and sensitive detection of GSH.
- The probe's mechanism involves labile coordination and ligand displacement, facilitating quick signaling.
- This tool has significant potential for biological imaging and studying redox homeostasis in living cells.
