A mitochondria-targeted turn-on fluorescent probe based on a rhodol platform for the detection of copper(I).

A new spirocyclized rhodol-based fluorescent probe has been developed for detecting mitochondrial Cu(+). Alkylation of the hydroxy group of a xanthene moiety with a tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-based ligand induced the formation of a non-fluorescent spirocyclic structure. The reaction with Cu(+) in the presence of submillimolar concentrations of glutathione at physiological pH resulted in the elimination of the ligand together with an increase in the fluorescence of the rhodol fluorophore.

Rosamine-based fluorescent sensor with femtomolar affinity for the reversible detection of a mercury ion.

A Hg(2+)-selective fluorescent sensor, RosHg, has been developed based on a rosamine platform. RosHg exhibited a ∼20-fold increase in fluorescence emission upon binding with Hg(2+), and the enhanced fluorescence was immediately decreased when glutathione was added to a solution of the Hg-RosHg complex. The dissociation constant for the Hg(2+) complex was determined to be 0.

Development of a dual functional luminescent sensor for zinc ion based on a peptidic architecture.

A synthetic peptide bearing a lanthanide complex, TbOTZ exhibits a decrease of chromophore fluorescence and a concomitant luminescence enhancement due to sensitized Tb(3+) upon Zn(2+) binding. Thus, TbOTZ can be a valuable tool for ratiometric sensing of Zn(2+) as well as for time-resolved fluorescence detection with a single molecule.