A Near-Infrared Fluorogenic Probe for Rapid, Specific, and Ultrasensitive Detection of Sphingosine in Living Cells and In Vivo

Sphingosine (Sph) plays important roles in various complex biological processes. Abnormalities in Sph metabolism can result in various diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. However, due to the lack of rapid and accurate detection methods, understanding sph metabolic in related diseases is limited. Herein, a series of near-infrared fluorogenic probes DMS-X (X = 2F, F, Cl, Br, and I) are designed and synthesized. The fast oxazolidinone ring formation enables the DMS-2F to detect Sph selectively and ultrasensitively, and the detection limit reaches 9.33 +/- 0.41 nm. Moreover, it is demonstrated that DMS-2F exhibited a dose- and time-dependent response to Sph and can detect sph in living cells. Importantly, for the first time, the changes in Sph levels induced by A beta 42 oligomers and H2O2 are assessed through a fluorescent imaging approach, and further validated the physiological processes by which A beta 42 oligomers and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induce changes in intracellular Sph levels. Additionally, the distribution of Sph in living zebrafish is successfully mapped by in vivo imaging of a zebrafish model. This work provides a simple and efficient method for probing Sph in living cells and in vivo, which will facilitate investigation into the metabolic process of Sph and the connection between Sph and disease pathologies. A novel fluorogenic probe for specifical sphingosine detecting is constructed via a rational molecular design strategy. The probe could image A beta 42 oligomers-induced Sph in neural cells and in vivo.image

Automated summary

A series of near-infrared fluorogenic probes were designed and synthesized for the rapid and selective detection of sphingosine. Through fluorescent imaging, the changes in sphingosine levels induced by A beta 42 oligomers and H2O2 were evaluated, and the distribution of sphingosine in living organisms was successfully mapped. This work provides a simple and efficient method for investigating the metabolic process of sphingosine and its connection to disease pathologies.