A general strategy to develop cell membrane fluorescent probes with location- and target-specific fluorogenicities: a case of a Zn2+ probe with cellular selectivity

Chem Commun (Camb). 2019 Dec 28;55(100):15045-15048. doi: 10.1039/c9cc08895d. Epub 2019 Nov 29.

Abstract

We reported fluorescent probes to image Zn2+ with plasma membrane-specific and Zn2+-specific fluorogenicities. The probes contained hydrophobic alkyl chains as membrane-anchored domains and hydrophilic zinc sensor ZTRS, and aggregated to display quenched fluorescence. Cells dissolved the aggregates and the liberated probes were dispersed on the outside of the cell plasma membrane. Aggregates that did not bind to the cell membrane still exhibited aggregation-induced fluorescence quenching after complexing with zinc ions, while probes anchored on the membrane surface exhibited a fluorescence-enhanced response upon recognition of zinc ions.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Ions / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Zinc / chemistry*

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Ions
  • Zinc