Fluorescent probes for reactive oxygen species

Abstract

Purpose: As key messengers and effectors, reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anion radical (O·2), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (·OH), hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and peroxynitrite (NO3-) participate in a fascinating array of cellular processes including development, aging, metabolism, immunity, carcinogenesis and neurodegeneration. To understand the precise mechanisms of how a particular ROS works in a cellular phenomenon, it is important to have selective and sensitive probes for each of those species. In this talk, I will report our recent progress on the development of several efficient fluorescent probes for detection of endogenous ROS. Methods: With their intrinsic advantages such as high sensitivity, practical handling, inexpensive instrumentation, and ease of functional modifications, small-molecule fluorescent probes represent an ideal approach to ROS detection. Through discovery of selective reactions to each of those ROS, we have designed and synthesized various fluorescent probes for the detection of specific ROS and explored their biological applications. Results: We have developed several efficient fluorescent probes (HKSOX, HKGreen/Yellow, and HKOCl) for the selective detection and molecular imaging of endogenous superoxide, peroxynitrite, and hypochlorous acid, respectively, with cytosol, mitochondria and lysosome targeting capacity. Those probes have shown high selectivity, sensitivity, spatiotemporal resolution, and photostability. In multiple platforms including live cell confocal imaging, microplate assay, flow cytometry, tissue staining and in vivo zebrafish imaging, the applicability of the probes has been established. Conclusion: Those probes offer exciting opportunities for selectively detecting single ROS and promise to help accelerate biological investigation and discovery on the roles of ROS in health and disease.