A mitochondria-targeted “turn-on” near-infrared fluorescent probe for imaging protein Sulfenic acids in live cells under oxidative stress

IF 4.8 2区化学 Q1 SPECTROSCOPY

Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy Pub Date : 2026-04-15 Epub Date: 2026-01-10 DOI:10.1016/j.saa.2026.127460

Zhixuan Feng , Wenjing Liu , Xiaojie Zhang , Ping Li , Libo Du , Yan Cui

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Abstract

Protein sulfenic acids (PSA) are crucial reactive species in oxidative stress, yet their transient nature and the complex cellular environment demand detection tools with high selectivity, sensitivity, and organelle-targeting capability. To address this, we report a novel near-infrared (NIR) turn-on fluorescent probe, HCA-CHD. This probe is rationally constructed with a cationic hemicyanine (HCA) dye as the NIR fluorophore and a 1,3-cyclohexanedione (CHD) moiety as the specific reaction site for PSA. The reaction with PSA forms a thioether linkage, which triggers a significant fluorescence enhancement. HCA-CHD exhibits a maximum absorption at 640 nm and, upon reaction, shows a strong turn-on fluorescence emission at 710 nm. Comprehensive characterization confirms its excellent reactivity, high selectivity, good stability, and inherent mitochondria-targeting ability. We successfully demonstrate the application of HCA-CHD for the highly sensitive and selective imaging of endogenous PSA in the mitochondria of live HeLa and MCF-7 cells, thus providing a powerful tool for investigating redox biology.

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线粒体靶向“开启”近红外荧光探针，用于成像氧化应激下活细胞中的亚磺酸蛋白

蛋白亚磺酸（PSA）是氧化应激中重要的反应物质，但其瞬态性质和复杂的细胞环境需要具有高选择性、灵敏度和细胞器靶向能力的检测工具。为了解决这个问题，我们报道了一种新的近红外（NIR）开启荧光探针，HCA-CHD。该探针以阳离子半花青碱（HCA）染料作为近红外荧光基团，1,3-环己二酮（CHD）片段作为PSA特异反应位点，合理构建。与PSA反应形成硫醚键，触发显著的荧光增强。HCA-CHD在640nm处表现出最大的吸收，反应后在710 nm处表现出强烈的开启荧光发射。综合表征证实其具有优良的反应活性、高选择性、良好的稳定性和固有的线粒体靶向能力。我们成功地展示了HCA-CHD在活的HeLa和MCF-7细胞线粒体内源性PSA的高灵敏度和选择性成像的应用，从而为研究氧化还原生物学提供了有力的工具。

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来源期刊

Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 物理-光谱学

CiteScore

8.40

自引率

11.40%

发文量

1364

审稿时长

40 days

期刊介绍： Spectrochimica Acta, Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy (SAA) is an interdisciplinary journal which spans from basic to applied aspects of optical spectroscopy in chemistry, medicine, biology, and materials science. The journal publishes original scientific papers that feature high-quality spectroscopic data and analysis. From the broad range of optical spectroscopies, the emphasis is on electronic, vibrational or rotational spectra of molecules, rather than on spectroscopy based on magnetic moments. Criteria for publication in SAA are novelty, uniqueness, and outstanding quality. Routine applications of spectroscopic techniques and computational methods are not appropriate. Topics of particular interest of Spectrochimica Acta Part A include, but are not limited to: Spectroscopy and dynamics of bioanalytical, biomedical, environmental, and atmospheric sciences, Novel experimental techniques or instrumentation for molecular spectroscopy, Novel theoretical and computational methods, Novel applications in photochemistry and photobiology, Novel interpretational approaches as well as advances in data analysis based on electronic or vibrational spectroscopy.