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A Water-Soluble Near-Infrared Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Selective Detection of Monoamine Oxidase A Activity
Wenyu Wei1,2, Shanshan Liu1,2, Pingzhou Wu1,2
1Department of Chemistry and COSDAF (Centre of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films), City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, China.
Chembiochem : a European Journal of Chemical Biology
|October 28, 2025
Summary
A new probe, Cyma, selectively detects Monoamine Oxidase A (MAO-A) activity with high sensitivity. This advancement offers potential for improved neurological disease diagnosis and monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Chemical Biology
Background:
- Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) is vital for neurotransmitter metabolism and oxidative stress, implicated in neurological disorders and cancer.
- Conventional MAO-A detection methods lack specificity and sensitivity due to structural similarities with MAO-B and spectral crosstalk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, highly selective, and sensitive probe for detecting MAO-A activity.
- To overcome limitations of existing MAO-A detection techniques.
Main Methods:
- Engineered Cyma, a water-soluble near-infrared ratiometric probe on a cyanine platform.
- Cyma features a sulfonated cyanine core, a clorgyline-derived recognition unit for MAO-A selectivity, and a propylamine moiety for activation.
- Utilized enzymatic activation leading to a fluorescence shift from 805 nm to 740 nm upon MAO-A interaction.
Main Results:
- Cyma demonstrated excellent selectivity for MAO-A over MAO-B.
- Achieved high sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.0035 μg mL⁻¹.
- Showcased a strong linear correlation between ratiometric fluorescence and MAO-A concentration in SH-SY5Y cells.
Conclusions:
- Cyma is a potent tool for selective MAO-A activity detection.
- The probe exhibits excellent biocompatibility and detection capabilities in cellular models.
- Cyma holds significant promise for disease diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring, and intraoperative imaging.
