title: Synthesis and systematic evaluation of dark resonance energy transfer (DRET)-based library and its application in cell imaging.
abstract: In this paper, we report a new strategy for constructing a dye library with large Stokes shifts. By coupling a dark donor with BODIPY acceptors of tunable high quantum yield, a novel dark resonance energy transfer (DRET)-based library, named BNM, has been synthesized. Upon excitation of the dark donor (BDN) at 490 nm, the absorbed energy is transferred to the acceptor (BDM) with high efficiency, which was tunable in a broad range from 557 nm to 716 nm, with a high quantum yield of up to 0.8. It is noteworthy to mention that the majority of the non-radiative energy loss of the donor was converted into the acceptor's fluorescence output with a minimum leak of donor emission. Fluorescence imaging tested in live cells showed that the BNM compounds are cell-permeable and can also be employed for live-cell imaging. This is a new library which can be excited through a dark donor allowing for strong fluorescence emission in a wide range of wavelengths. Thus, the BNM library is well suited for high-throughput screening or multiplex experiments in biological applications by using a single laser excitation source.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & MedChem Program of Life Sciences, Institute National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore (Singapore), Fax: (+65) 6779-1691; Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138667, Singapore (Singapore).
authors.forename: Dongdong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Chai Lean
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Teoh
authors.forename: Nam-Young
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Xiaotong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Srikanta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.forename: Young-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004735:Energy Transfer; D015394:Molecular Structure; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries
chemical_list: C095489:4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene; D001896:Boron Compounds; D004396:Coloring Agents; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries
keywords: Stokes shift; cell imaging; dark donor; dark resonance energy transfer (DRET); fluorescence