<i>In Vivo</i> Imaging of Intraperitoneally Disseminated Tumors in Model Mice by Using Activatable Fluorescent Small-Molecular Probes for Activity of Cathepsins

It is difficult to completely remove carcinomas in unguided ablative surgery because they cannot be distinguished with the unaided human eye. Therefore, in order to precisely visualize tiny tumors and the borders between cancerous lesions and normal tissues, we have been developing fluorescence probes activatable only in cancer cells. We previously reported the hydroxymethylrhodamine green (HMRG)-based fluorescence probe gGlu-HMRG for γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), which is overexpressed in a variety of cancer cells, and we showed that it enables <i>in vivo</i> rapid detection of human ovarian cancer SHIN-3 nodules with a high tumor-to-background (T/B) fluorescence ratio in model mice. However, cancer cell lines with low GGT expression could hardly be detected with gGlu-HMRG. Here we developed two new HMRG-based fluorescence probes for the cathepsin family of cysteine proteases, including cathepsin B (CatB) and cathepsin L (CatL), which show increased expression and/or activity, secretion, and altered localization in many kinds of cancer cells. The developed probes, Z-Phe-Arg-HMRG and Z-Arg-Arg-HMRG, are colorless and nonfluorescent at the physiological pH of 7.4, but are hydrolyzed to HMRG upon reaction with purified cathepsins, resulting in a more than 200-fold fluorescence increase. These probes could visualize human ovarian cancer cell lines SHIN-3, SK-OV-3, and OVCAR-3, of which the latter two were hardly detectable with gGlu-HMRG. Z-Phe-Arg-HMRG showed higher applicability than Z-Arg-Arg-HMRG for <i>in vivo</i> imaging, and we confirmed that 0.5-mm-sized SK-OV-3 tumor nodules disseminated on the mesentery in a mouse model could be rapidly visualized by Z-Phe-Arg-HMRG, with a T/B fluorescence ratio of 4.2. Further, intraperitoneally disseminated tumor could be visualized in real time <i>in vivo</i> by fluorescence endoscopy after spraying Z-Phe-Arg-HMRG, with a T/B ratio of 3. In conclusion, our HMRG-based activatable probes targeted to cathepsins have expanded the detectable range of cancers, and appear to be suitable for clinical application

Development of a Highly Specific Rhodamine-Based Fluorescence Probe for Hypochlorous Acid and Its Application to Real-Time Imaging of Phagocytosis

The tetramethylrhodamine (TMR) fluorophore is a useful platform for fluorescence probes, being applicable, for example, to biological investigations utilizing fluorescence microscopy, owing to its excellent photochemical properties in aqueous media. We have developed new TMR derivatives that show different dependences of their behavior upon the environment. Among them, HMTMR showed unique characteristics, and its putative spirocyclic structure was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Utilizing this discovery, we have established a strategy to modulate the fluorescence of TMR by regulating the spirocyclization, and we have obtained a new fluorescence probe that can detect hypochlorous acid specifically. This probe, HySOx, can work in 99.9% aqueous solution at pH 7.4 and was confirmed to be able to detect hypochlorous acid being generated inside phagosomes in real time. HySOx is tolerant to autoxidation and photobleaching under bioimaging conditions. Regulation of the spirocyclization of rhodamines, as we describe here, provides a new approach to the rational development of novel fluorescence probes

Development of a Highly Specific Rhodamine-Based Fluorescence Probe for Hypochlorous Acid and Its Application to Real-Time Imaging of Phagocytosis

The tetramethylrhodamine (TMR) fluorophore is a useful platform for fluorescence probes, being applicable, for example, to biological investigations utilizing fluorescence microscopy, owing to its excellent photochemical properties in aqueous media. We have developed new TMR derivatives that show different dependences of their behavior upon the environment. Among them, HMTMR showed unique characteristics, and its putative spirocyclic structure was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Utilizing this discovery, we have established a strategy to modulate the fluorescence of TMR by regulating the spirocyclization, and we have obtained a new fluorescence probe that can detect hypochlorous acid specifically. This probe, HySOx, can work in 99.9% aqueous solution at pH 7.4 and was confirmed to be able to detect hypochlorous acid being generated inside phagosomes in real time. HySOx is tolerant to autoxidation and photobleaching under bioimaging conditions. Regulation of the spirocyclization of rhodamines, as we describe here, provides a new approach to the rational development of novel fluorescence probes

Mechanism-Based Molecular Design of Highly Selective Fluorescence Probes for Nitrative Stress

Nitrative stress is implicated in various pathogenic processes, including neurodegenerative disorders, but there is no practical fluorescence probe which can monitor the generation of nitrative stress with high selectivity. To design a suitable fluorescence probe, we have first focused on the fluorescence quenching mechanism of the nitro group, which has been believed to be a unique quencher of fluorescent dyes. We found that nitro group-based fluorescence quenching could be explained in terms of an electron transfer process, from the excited fluorophore to the electron-deficient aromatic nitro moiety. By utilizing this result, we succeeded in developing novel fluorogenic probes, NiSPYs, which can selectively monitor the generation of nitrative stress based on aromatic nitration. NiSPYs showed strong fluorescence enhancement upon the reaction with nitrating agents, including peroxynitrite, but showed little or no fluorescence augmentation in the presence of other reactive oxygen species. NiSPYs should be potentially useful as tools to study the role of nitrative stress in various biological applications

Development of a Ratiometric Fluorescent Zinc Ion Probe in Near-Infrared Region, Based on Tricarbocyanine Chromophore

Novel ratiometric fluorescent probes for Zn2+ in the near-infrared region, based on a tricarbocyanine chromophore, have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated. Upon addition of Zn2+, a 44 nm red shift of the absorption maximum was observed, which indicates that this probe could work as a ratiometric probe for Zn2+. This change is due to the difference in the electron-donating ability of the amine substituent before and after reaction with Zn2+. This fluorescence modulation of amine-substituted tricarbocyanines should be applicable to dual-wavelength measurement of various biomolecules or enzyme activities

Improvement and Biological Applications of Fluorescent Probes for Zinc, ZnAFs

The development and cellular applications of novel fluorescent probes for Zn2+, ZnAF-1F, and ZnAF-2F are described. Fluorescein is used as a fluorophore of ZnAFs, because its excitation and emission wavelengths are in the visible range, which minimizes cell damage and autofluorescence by excitation light. N,N-Bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine, used as an acceptor for Zn2+, is attached directly to the benzoic acid moiety of fluorescein, resulting in very low quantum yields of 0.004 for ZnAF-1F and 0.006 for ZnAF-2F under physiological conditions (pH 7.4) due to the photoinduced electron-transfer mechanism. Upon the addition of Zn2+, the fluorescence intensity is quickly increased up to 69-fold for ZnAF-1F and 60-fold for ZnAF-2F. Apparent dissociation constants (Kd) are in the nanomolar range, which affords sufficient sensitivity for biological applications. ZnAFs do not fluoresce in the presence of other biologically important cations such as Ca2+ and Mg2+, and are insensitive to change of pH. The complexes with Zn2+ of previously developed ZnAFs, ZnAF-1, and ZnAF-2 decrease in fluorescence intensity below pH 7.0 owing to protonation of the phenolic hydroxyl group of fluorescein, whose pKa value is 6.2. On the other hand, the Zn2+ complexes of ZnAF-1F and ZnAF-2F emit stable fluorescence around neutral and slightly acidic conditions because the pKa values are shifted to 4.9 by substitution of electron-withdrawing fluorine at the ortho position of the phenolic hydroxyl group. For application to living cells, the diacetyl derivative of ZnAF-2F, ZnAF-2F DA, was synthesized. ZnAF-2F DA can permeate through the cell membrane, and is hydrolyzed by esterase in the cytosol to yield ZnAF-2F, which is retained in the cells. Using ZnAF-2F DA, we could measure the changes of intracellular Zn2+ in cultured cells and hippocampal slices

Design and Synthesis of a Library of BODIPY-Based Environmental Polarity Sensors Utilizing Photoinduced Electron-Transfer-Controlled Fluorescence ON/OFF Switching

We systematically examined the mechanism of the solvent polarity dependence of the fluorescence ON/OFF threshold of the BODIPY (boron dipyrromethene) fluorophore and the role of photoinduced electron transfer (PeT). In a series of BODIPY derivatives with variously substituted benzene moieties at the 8-position, the oxidation potential of the benzene moiety became more positive and the reduction potential of the BODIPY fluorophore became more negative as the solvent polarity was decreased; consequently, the free energy change of PeT from the benzene moiety becomes larger in a more nonpolar environment. Utilizing this finding, we designed and synthesized a library of probes in which the threshold of fluorescence ON/OFF switching corresponds to different levels of solvent polarity. These environment-sensitive probes were used to examine bovine serum albumin (BSA) and living cells. The polarity at the surface of albumin was concluded to be similar to that of acetone, while the polarity of the internal membranes of HeLa cells was similar to that of dichloromethane

A Thiol-Reactive Fluorescence Probe Based on Donor-Excited Photoinduced Electron Transfer: Key Role of Ortho Substitution

We designed and synthesized a novel thiol-reactive fluorescence probe based on the BODIPY fluorophore. The fluorescence of this probe is strongly quenched by donor-excited photoinduced electron transfer (d-PeT) from BODIPY to maleimide, but after reaction with thiol, the fluorescence of BODIPY is restored, affording a 350-fold intensity increase

A Fluorescent Anion Sensor That Works in Neutral Aqueous Solution for Bioanalytical Application

Anion recognition and anion sensing are of interest because anions play many important roles in living organisms. Most currently known anion sensors work only in organic solution, but sensors for biological applications are required to function in neutral aqueous solution. We have designed and synthesized a novel fluorescent sensor for anions. The sensor molecule 1-CdII contains 7-amino-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin as a fluorescent reporter and CdII-cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) as an anion host. In neutral aqueous solution, CdII of 1-CdII is coordinated by the four nitrogen atoms of cyclen and the aromatic amino group of coumarin. When various anions are added to 100 mM HEPES buffer solution (pH 7.4) containing 1-CdII, the aromatic amino group of coumarin is displaced from CdII, causing a change of the excitation spectrum. While pyrophosphate and citrate were detected with high sensitivity, fluoride and perchlorate produced no response. Among organic anions, ATP and ADP gave strong signals, while cAMP showed little signal. By utilizing the different affinities of the sensor for AMP and cAMP, the activity of phosphodiesterase, which cleaves cyclic nucleotide, was monitored in real-time. The sensor should have many biochemical and analytical applications and the sensing principle should be widely applicable to the sensing of other molecules

Creation of Superior Carboxyfluorescein Dyes by Blocking Donor-Excited Photoinduced Electron Transfer

Carboxyfluoresceins are widely utilized as fluorescence labeling reagents, but we recently found that their emission intensity is markedly decreased after esterification. On the basis of our hypothesis that the fluorescence decrease is due to a donor-excited photoinduced electron transfer (d-PeT) process, we have developed novel carboxyfluorescein derivatives in which the d-PeT process is hampered, and the emission intensity is not decreased upon esterification. These novel dye derivatives display high quantum yields and are expected to be useful as labeling agents