Peptide-based targeting of fluorescent zinc sensors to the plasma membrane of live cells

Combining fluorescent zinc sensors with the facile syntheses and biological targeting capabilities of peptides, we created green- and blue-emitting probes that (i) are readily prepared on the solid-phase, (ii) retain the photophysical and zinc-binding properties of the parent sensor, and (iii) can be directed to the extracellular side of plasma membranes in live cells for detection of mobile zinc.