Fluorescent detection of glutamate with a dicopper(II) polyamine cage

A dicopper(II) octamine cage includes selectively the L-glutamate ion in water at pH 7, establishing Cu(2+)/-COO(-) coordinative interactions. In particular, L-glutamate is able to displace the quenched rhodamine indicator from the cage, whose fluorescence is then fully restored. Other typical neurotransmitters (glycine, GABA) and some related amino acids are discriminated. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.