title: Thiourea-based fluorescent chemosensors for aqueous metal ion detection and cellular imaging.
abstract: We describe three significant advances in the use of thioureas as reporting elements for metal-responsive fluorescent chemosensors. First, on the basis of the crystal structure of a chemosensor analogue, we provide a deeper understanding of the details of the thiourea coordination environment. Second, we describe a new generation of chemosensors with higher affinities for Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) than were observed for earlier probes, expanding the scope of this type of probe beyond Hg(2+) detection. Third, we show that a thiourea-based chemosensor can be employed for fluorescence microscopy imaging of Hg(2+) ion concentrations in living mammalian cells.
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich , Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland.
authors: Mireille
authors: M
authors: Vonlanthen
authors: Colleen M
authors: CM
authors: Connelly
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Deiters
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Linden
authors: Nathaniel S
authors: NS
authors: Finney
mesh_terms: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013890:Thiourea / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007477:Ions; D008670:Metals; D014867:Water; D008628:Mercury; D013890:Thiourea