A retrievable and highly selective fluorescent probe for monitoring sulfide and imaging in living cells.
A novel selective fluorescent chemosensor based on an 8-hydroxyquinoline-appended fluorescein derivative (L1) was synthesized and characterized. Once combined with Cu(2+), it displayed high specificity for sulfide anion. Among the various anions, only sulfide anion induced the revival of fluoresecence of L1, which was quenched by Cu(2+), resulting in "off-on"-type sensing of sulfide anion. What's more, the sensor was retrievable to indicate sulfide anions with Cu(2+), and S(2-), in turn, increased. With the addition of Cu(2+), compound L1 could give rise to a visible pink-to-yellow color change and green fluorescence quenching. The resulting yellow solution could change to pink and regenerate to green fluorescence immediately upon the addition of sulfide anion; however, no changes were observed in the presence of other anions, including CN(-), P(2)O(7)(4-), and other forms of sulfate, making compound L1 an extremely selective and efficient sulfide chemosensor. The signal transduction occurs via reversible formation-separation of complex L1Cu and CuS. What's more, the biological imaging study has demonstrated that the chemosensor can detect sulfur anions in biological systems at a relatively low concentration.
State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China.
Fengping
F
Hou
Liang
L
Huang
Pinxian
P
Xi
Ju
J
Cheng
Xuefei
X
Zhao
Guoqiang
G
Xie
Yanjun
Y
Shi
Fengjuan
F
Cheng
Xiaojun
X
Yao
Decheng
D
Bai
Zhengzhi
Z
Zeng
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015125:Oxyquinoline / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013440:Sulfides; D015125:Oxyquinoline; D003300:Copper