Dual-functional fluorescence probe for revealing metabolism during cellular cuproptosis

Cuproptosis, a newly identified type of cell death induced by copper, is associated with intracellular oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and protein aggregation. This work presents the development of a red-emitting fluorescent probe, COS-NS which is applied to reveal the possible metabolism during cellular cuproptosis. This probe facilitates the concurrent and accurate detection of HOCl and viscosity through distinct emission wavelengths, thereby eliminating possible interference. Furthermore, probe COS-NS has exhibited characteristics like good selectivity, ultrafast response time (∼ 15 s), low detection limit (81 nM), and exceptional stability, rendering it a suitable instrument for detecting cellular HOCl in biological systems. Moreover, we have indicated that cuproptosis could rise oxidative stress and GSH is a key factor in promoting the cuproptosis with sufficient copper ion (II) within biosystem.