title: A minimal core based fluorophore for selective detection of Zn(II) ions in aqueous solution and living cells.
abstract: A minimal core based fluorophore was introduced as a selectively fluorescent "turn on" sensor for Zn(2+) ions in aqueous solution. Addition of Zn(2+) ions to the fluorophore generates a significant emission through a 1:1 ligand-to-metal complex. The fluorescence titration experiment of the minimal core based fluorophore with various metal ions shows that the pyromellitic diimide derivative also has the advantage of a high selectivity to Zn(2+) ions over other metals such as Ni(2+), or Co(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), Fe(2+). More than 8 fold increase in the intensity of fluorescence was observed for the Zn(2+)-bound fluorophore compared to Zn-free fluorophore. Due to its small molecular size, the fluorophore was cell-permeable and successfully applied to the detection of Zn(2+) in living cells. With its relatively high sensitivity to Zn(2+) in living cells, the synthesized new fluorophore will be very useful in the studies on various biological functions of Zn(2+).
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences,155 Yangqiao West Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China. qingdongzheng@fjirsm.ac.cn
authors.forename: Qingdong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Shanci
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhuyuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002477:Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions; D008024:Ligands; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007477:Ions; D008024:Ligands; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D015032:Zinc