title: A thiol fluorescent probe reveals the intricate modulation of cysteine's reactivity by Cu(II).
abstract: In this study, Cu(II)-mediated differential alteration of cysteine (Cys) reactivity is reported by using a Cys-specific fluorescent probe. The probe could react with Cys to give out strong fluorescence. When Cys was preincubated with Cu(II), the fluorescence of the probe was decreased due to the inhibition of Cys's reactivity by Cu(II). Remarkably, experimental results reveal that the probe could detect Cu(II) at subnanomolar concentrations. In contrast, Cu(II) could only partially inhibit the reaction between Cys and Ellman's reagent (DTNB). Furthermore, selectivity experiments show that Cu(II) is a much more potent inhibitor for Cys compared to other metal ions. Cell imaging experiments also confirm the inhibitory effects of Cu(II) on Cys's reactivity in living cells. We envision that the probe could add a useful tool for sensitive and selective detection of Cu(II) for biomedical research.
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Multi-disciplinary Research Division, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100049, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China.
authors.forename: Huiru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Huatang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Multi-disciplinary Research Division, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China. Electronic address: jczhang6970@163.com.
authors.forename: Jinchao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Ruochuan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: hongysun@cityu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Multi-disciplinary Research Division, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Yuliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Multi-disciplinary Research Division, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Zhifang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Multi-disciplinary Research Division, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: huyi@ihep.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000737:chemistry*; D004228:Dithionitrobenzoic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D003300:Copper; D004228:Dithionitrobenzoic Acid; D003545:Cysteine
keywords: Cell imaging; Copper; Cysteine; Ellman's reagent; Fluorescent probe