A lysosome-targeted fluorescent probe based on a BODIPY structure for Cys/Hcy detection

Anal Methods. 2024 Feb 1;16(5):686-694. doi: 10.1039/d3ay01965a.

Abstract

Cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy) are important biothiols in living organisms. They play important roles in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Therefore, it is very important to design an optical probe for the selective detection of Cys/Hcy. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a fluorescent probe NBD-B-T based on a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) structure, which showed an excellent lysosome targeting ability and an outstanding Cys/Hcy detection capacity. For NBD-B-T, the sensing group 7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD) and the lysosomal targeting group morpholine were introduced. The results show that the NBD-B-T probe can detect Cys/Hcy with fluorescence emission turn-on performance. The low detection limits of this probe are about 76.0 nM for Hcy and 97.6 nM for Cys, respectively. The NBD-B-T probe has a low detection limit, high stability, and excellent selectivity and sensitivity. More importantly, the NBD-B-T can target lysosome, and simultaneously detect the Cys/Hcy in living cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Boron Compounds*
  • Cysteine*
  • Fluorescent Dyes* / chemistry
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes

Substances

  • 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene
  • Cysteine
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Boron Compounds