Hemin as a General Static Dark Quencher for Constructing Heme Oxygenase-1 Fluorescent Probes

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2023 May 15;62(21):e202301598. doi: 10.1002/anie.202301598. Epub 2023 Apr 13.

Abstract

The development of small-molecule probes suitable for live-cell applications remains challenging yet highly desirable. We report the first fluorescent probe, RBH, for imaging the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) activity in live cells after discovering hemin as a universal dark quencher. Hemin works via a static quenching mechanism and shows high quenching efficiency (>97 %) with fluorophores across a broad spectrum (λex =400-700 nm). The favorable properties of RBH (e.g. long excitation/emission wavelengths, fast response rate and high magnitude of signal increase) enable its use for determining HO-1 activity in complex biological samples. As HO-1 is involved in regulating antioxidant defence, iron homeostasis and gasotransmitter carbon monoxide production, we expect RBH to be a powerful tool for dissecting its functions. Also, the discovery of hemin as a general static dark quencher provides a straightforward strategy for constructing novel fluorescent probes for diverse biological species.

Keywords: Dark Quencher; Fluorescent Probe; Heme Oxygenase-1; Hemin; Static Quenching.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)
  • Heme Oxygenase-1*
  • Hemin*

Substances

  • Heme Oxygenase-1
  • Hemin
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)
  • Antioxidants