title: Selective imaging of quorum sensing receptors in bacteria using fluorescent Au nanocluster probes surface functionalized with signal molecules.
abstract: Fluorescent ultrasmall gold clusters decorated with bacterial quorum sensing signal molecules, acyl homoserine lactone, are synthesized. These fluorescent probes are found to have emission in the near-infrared spectral region advantageous for bioimaging. Imaging studies using different strains of bacteria with and without acyl homoserine lactone receptors with the aid of confocal microscopy have shown that the probe interacts preferentially with cells possessing these receptors. This indicates that, with appropriate surface functionalization, the Au clusters can be used for receptor specific detection with enhanced selectivity.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory , Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India.
authors.forename: Ruchira
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mukherji
authors.forename: Anupam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samanta
authors.forename: Rajith
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Illathvalappil
authors.forename: Somak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Asmita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prabhune
authors.forename: R Nandini
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Devi
mesh_terms: D054742:Acyl-Butyrolactones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005453:Fluorescence; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D053038:Quorum Sensing; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D054742:Acyl-Butyrolactones; D006046:Gold