Molecular rotors as conditionally fluorescent labels for rapid detection of biomolecular interactions

J Am Chem Soc. 2014 Apr 30;136(17):6159-62. doi: 10.1021/ja413031h. Epub 2014 Feb 11.

Abstract

We demonstrate the use of fluorescent molecular rotors as probes for detecting biomolecular interactions, specifically peptide-protein interactions. Molecular rotors undergo twisted intramolecular charge transfer upon irradiation, relax via the nonradiative torsional relaxation pathway, and have been typically used as viscosity probes. Their utility as a tool for detecting specific biomolecular interactions has not been explored. Using the well characterized p53-Mdm2 interaction as a model system, we designed a 9-(2-carboxy-2-cyanovinyl) julolidine-based p53 peptide reporter, JP1-R, which fluoresces conditionally only upon Mdm2 binding. The reporter was used in a rapid, homogeneous assay to screen a fragment library for antagonists of the p53-Mdm2 interaction, and several inhibitors were identified. Subsequent validation of these hits using established secondary assays suggests increased sensitivity afforded by JP1-R. The fluorescence of molecular rotors contingent upon target binding makes them a versatile tool for detecting specific biomolecular interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nitriles / chemistry
  • Nitriles / metabolism*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods
  • Protein Interaction Maps / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / metabolism*
  • Quinolizines / chemistry
  • Quinolizines / metabolism*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Nitriles
  • Peptides
  • Quinolizines
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • 9-(2-carboxy-2-cyanovinyl)julolidine
  • MDM2 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2