Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and zinc(II) ions responsive pyrene based turn-on fluorescent probe and its application in live cell imaging

A novel highly selective and sensitive turn-on fluorescent chemosensor PCE to recognize Zn2+ has been developed. The sensor PCE displays a remarkable fluorescent enhancement at 456 nm (lambda(ex) = 340 nm) with Zn2+ without the interference of other biologically important relevant metal ions in aqueous acetonitrile solution. Job's plot and mass spectral studies divulge such the interaction of PCE by Zn2+ was 1:1 binding stoichiometry. The association constant and detection limit of PCE to recognize Zn2+ was found to be 0.948 x 10(4) M-1 and 4.82 x 10(-7) M respectively. The nature of turn-on fluorescence sensor was supported by TD-DFT calculations. And the synthesized probe PCE was able to image intracellular Zn2+ in living cells using confocal imaging techniques. PCE-Zn ensemble showed the remarkable fluorescence enhancement with ATP selectively among other biologically important phosphates. P-31 NMR experiments suggesting that the triphosphates unit of ATP is intact with the PCE-Zn. PCE-Zn ensemble can be utilized for monitoring ATP in live cells.

Automated summary

A novel highly selective and sensitive turn-on fluorescent chemosensor PCE has been developed for the recognition of Zn2+, displaying remarkable fluorescent enhancement in aqueous acetonitrile solution. The PCE-Zn ensemble can be utilized for monitoring ATP in live cells with selective fluorescence enhancement.