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In this study, we developed organelle-specific blue-emitting two-photon (TP) probes for Ca

We have developed blue- and yellow-emitting two-photon probes (BGolgi-blue and PGolgi-yellow) from 6-(benzo[ d]oxazol-2-yl)-2-naphthalylamine and 2,5-bis(benzo[ d]oxazol-2-yl)pyrazine derivatives as the fluorophores and trans-Golgi-network peptide (SDYQRL) as the Golgi-apparatus-targeting moiety. HeLa cells labeled with BGolgi-blue and PGolgi-yellow emitted two-photon-excited fluorescence at 462 and 560 nm, respectively, with effective two-photon-action cross-section values of 1860 and 1600 × 10

Amyloid-β (Aβ) tracers have made a significant contribution to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by allowing a definitive diagnosis in living patients. Unfortunately, they also detect tau and other protein aggregates that compromise test accuracy. In AD research, there has been a growing need for in vivo Aβ imaging by two-photon microscopy, which enables deep-brain-fluorescence imaging. There is no suitable neuritic Aβ probe for two-photon microscopy. Here we report PyrPeg, a novel two-photon fluorescent probe that can selectively target insoluble Aβ rather than tau and α-synuclein aggregates in the AD model brain and postmortem brain. When injected intravenously, PyrPeg detects the neuritic plaques in the brain and olfactory bulb of the AD model. PyrPeg may serve as a useful blood-brain-barrier-penetrating diagnostic tool for optical and functional monitoring of insoluble forms of Aβ aggregates in the living AD brain.

We report blue- and green-emitting two-photon probes derived from naphthalene and fluorene derivatives (as fluorophores) and an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retrieval peptide (KDEL; as an ER-targeting moiety) that can detect the ER in a live cell by both one-photon and two-photon microscopy (TPM) and in a live tissue by TPM.

We developed Pyr1-infliximab: a two-photon probe for TNF-α. Pyr1-infliximab showed absorption maxima at 280 and 438 nm and an emission maximum at 610 nm in an aqueous buffer and effective two-photon action cross-section values of (520-2830) × 10

Ketene-forming elimination from C4H3(O)CH2C(O)OC6H3-2-X-4-NO2 (1) promoted by R2NH in MeCN has been studied. The reactions produced elimination products and exhibited second-order kinetics with Bronsted β = 0.51, and |βlg| = 0.47–0.53, indicating that the reaction proceeds by the E2 mechanism via an E2-central transition state. Comparison of β, |βlg|, ΔH≠, and ΔS≠ values for R2NH-promoted eliminations from ArCH2C(O)OC6H3-2-X-4-NO2 reveals that the transition-state structures for Ar = furyl and thienyl are similar and more symmetrical than that for Ar = Ph. This outcome has been attributed to the greater double bond stabilizing ability of the former than that of the latter.

We have developed two-photon (TP) pH-sensitive probes (BH-2 and BHEt-1) that exhibit absorption and emission maxima at 370 and 466 nm, and TP absorption cross-section values of 51 and 61 GM (1 GM = 10–50cm4s/photon), respectively, at 750 nm and pH 3.0 in a universal buffer (0.1 M citric acid, 0.1 M KH2PO4, 0.1 M Na2B4O7, 0.1 M Tris, 0.1 M KCl)/1,4-dioxane (7/3) solution. The TPM images of CCD-18co (a normal colon cell line) and HCT116 cells (a colon cancer cell line) labeled with BH-2 were too dim to be distinguished. When the same cells were labeled with BHEt-1, however, the TPM image of the HCT116 cells was much brighter than that of CCD-18co cells, and the relative proportion of the acidic vesicles (Pacid) of the former was 5-fold larger than that of latter. BHEt-1 could also differentiate HepG2 cells (a human liver cancer cell line) from LX-2 cells (a human hepatic stellate cell line) with a 6-fold larger Pacid value. Human colon cancer tissues labeled with BHEt-1 showed similar results, demonstrating...

We have developed a two-photon fluorescent tracer (Pyr-affibody) that shows high selectivity for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2). Pyr-affibody showed absorption and emission maxima at 439 and 574 nm, respectively, with a two-photon absorption cross-section value of 40 × 10–50 cm4s/photon (GM) at 750 nm in aqueous buffer solution. The effective two-photon action cross-section value measured in HeLa cells was 600 GM at 730 nm, a value sufficient to obtain bright two-photon microscopy (TPM) images. Using Pyr-affibody, it was possible to detect HER-2 overexpressing cells and breast cancers at a depth of 90–130 μm in live mouse tissue by TPM.

Herein we report 22 acedan-derived, two-photon fluorophores with synthetic feasibility and full coverage of visible wavelength emission. The emission wavelengths were predicted by computational analysis, which enabled us to visualize multicolor images by two-photon excitation with single wavelength, and to design a turn-on, two-photon fluorescence sensor for endogenous H2 O2 in Raw 264.7 macrophage and rat brain hippocampus ex vivo.

Elimination reactions of (E)-2,4,6-(NO2 ) 3C6H2CHNOC(O)C6H4X (3) promoted by R2NH/R2NH2 + in 70 mol% MeCN (aq) have been studied. The reactions produced elimination products and exhibited second-order kinetics. The β and |βlg| values remained nearly the same for all leaving groups and bases. The results can be described by the negligible pxy interaction coefficient, pxy = ∂β/∂pK lg = ∂βlg/∂pK BH ≈ 0, which provides a strong support for the (E1cb)irr mechanism. For eliminations from (E)-ArCHNOC(O)C6H4X (1, 3) and (E)-2,4,6-(NO2)3C6H2CHNOAr′ (2, 3), the change of the β-aryl group (Ar) from 2,4-dinitrophenyl (1) to 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (3) increased the rate by 270-fold without appreciable change in the transition state structure. On the other hand, the leaving group (OAr′) variation from benzoate (3) to 4-nitrophenoxy (2) induced a change in reaction mechanism from (E1cb)irr to E2. These results have been attributed to the cyclic transition state for the nitrile-forming eliminations involving the benzoate leaving group.

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of 5-XC4H2 (S)C(O)OC6H3 -2-Y-4-NO2 (1) promoted by 4-Z-C6H4O −/4-Z-C6H4OH in 20 mol % dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)(aq) have been studied kinetically. The reactions exhibited second-order kinetics with βacyl = −2.52 to −2.83, ρ(x) = 2.81–3.16, βnuc = 0.88–0.04 and βlg = −0.94, respectively. The results have been interpreted with an addition–elimination mechanism in which the nucleophilic attack occurs in the rate-determining step. Comparison with existing data reveals that the rate-determining step changes from the second to the first step by the change in the nucleophile from R2NH/R2NH2 + to 4-Z-C6H4O −/4-Z-C6H4OH.

A new visible-light-induced photocatalyst based on several transition metals (iron, magnesium and manganese)-loaded TiO2 was evaluated for its anti-viral activity with influenza virus H1N1. Under a fluorescent lamp of 1000 lx, λ > 410 nm, the virus was eradicated to more than 99% within 30 min. Since this photocatalyst can be used for coating plastics, wall papers and walls, it would be desirable to use this photocatalyst to reduce viral transmission via droplets and aerosols as well as surface contact for disinfection.

A two-photon probe for near-membrane zinc ions that can be excited by 800 nm femtosecond laser pulses and emit at 500 nm is reported. The probe can be easily loaded into cells and tissue slices to visualize near-membrane zinc ions in live cells and tissues for a long period of time through the use of two-photon microscopy.

the effect of the β-aryl group on the ketene-formingelimination was assessed.Key Words : Elimination, E2 and E1cb Mechanism, β–Aryl Group effectIntroductionExtensive studies of the structure-reactivity relationshipsin the ketene-forming elimination reactions have led to thequalitative understanding of the relationship between thereactant structure and the mechanism.

Copper ions play a crucial role in living systems as cofactors of numerous metalloenzymes. To quantitatively estimate the Cu2+ concentration in human tissue, we have developed a two-photon (TP) probe with an internal reference (ACCu2) that shows significant TP action cross-section and high selectivity for Cu2+ and can quantitatively estimate the Cu2+ concentration in human colon tissues by dual-color two-photon microscopy (TPM) imaging with minimum interference from other competing metal ions or pH and minimum cytotoxicity and photostability problems. The Cu2+ concentrations in human normal colon, polyp, and colon cancer tissues were found to be 8.3 ± 0.3, 13 ± 2, and 22 ± 3 μM, respectively. This result suggests that ACCu2 may be useful for the diagnosis of human colon cancer.

Two-photon microscopy (TPM) is a new imaging tool that can detect biological targets deep inside a live tissue. To faciltate the use of TPM in biomedical research, a variety of two-photon (TP) probes for specific applications are needed. In this Forum Article, we describe the design strategy, photophysical properties, and biological imaging applications of a selection of our recent studies in the development of TP probes for metal ions. Small-molecule TP turn-on probes, organelle-targeted probes, and multicolor emissive probes for dual-color imaging are briefly reviewed.

The feed value of sesame meal, a main agricultural by-product from the northern area of Gyeongsangbuk-do province, was assessed in Hanwoo steers. A total of twelve Hanwoo steers (average BW = 412.08 kg) were allocated into a Control (fed no sesame meal) or Treatment (fed sesame meal from 14.6 months of age) group, considering BW and ages, and the animals were fed for a total of 480 days. The final BW, total gain and ADG for the Control and Treatment groups were 741.17 kg and 762.67 kg, 331.84 kg and 347.84 kg, and 0.69 kg and 0.72 kg, respectively, showing better performances in sesame meal-fed animals. Feed requirements during the whole experimental period improved by feeding sesame meal (15.31 and 14.87 for Control and Treatment group, respectively). Hanwoo steers fed sesame meal also showed a 22.83 kg heavier cold carcass weight (424.17 kg and 447.00 kg in the Control and Treatment group, respectively), and 2.41% improved dressing percentages (58.60% and 57.22% for the Control and Treatment group, respectively). The area of the M. longissimus dorsi was 91.83 cm 2 and 88.33 cm 2 in the Control and Treatment group, respectively. The final yield of A and B grade meat were 50 : 50% and 33.3 : 66.7% from the Control and Treatment group, respectively. The average marbling score was 4.83 and 5.50, and the numeric values for quality grade was 2.17 and 2.67 for the Control and Treatment group, respectively, showing better beef quality in sesame meal-fed Hanwoo steers. In fact, there were two animals with beef quality 1 ++ in the sesame meal-fed group. The melting point of lipid extracted from the M. longissimus dorsi of Hanwoo steers was significantly (p

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a newly recognized transmitter, which protects various organs from oxidative stress. In this article, we report a ratiometric two-photon probe, TFCA, which can be excited by 750 nm femtosecond pulses, shows a 110-fold increase in the intensity ratio upon reaction with HS(-) and high selectivity for HS(-) and can visualize the total sulfide ([H2S] + [HS(-)]) distribution in live tissue by two-photon microscopy (TPM). We also developed a kinetic method to quantitatively estimate the total sulfide concentration ([H2S] + [HS(-)]) in live tissues. The kinetic method allowed us to measure the observed rate constants (kobs) for the sulfide-induced deazidation reaction of TFCA in live cells and tissues using TPM. The total sulfide concentration was calculated by using kobs = k2[HS(-)], with the k2 value determined in HEPES/EtOH (1/1, pH = 7.2), and [H2S]/[HS(-)] = [H(+)]/Ka. The total sulfide concentration was found to be nearly zero in HeLa cells and 4-7 μM in rat colon tissues.

value increased with a stronger electron-withdrawing 5-thienyl substituent, the Hammett plots arelinear except for X = MeO, and Yukawa-Tsuno plots are linear with ρ = 0.79-1.32 and r = 0.28-0.93,respectively. The ρ value increased and r value decreased with a stronger nucleophile, indicating an increase inthe electron density at the C=O bond and a decrease in the resonance demand. These results have beeninterpreted with enhanced N-C bond formation in the transition state with the reactivity increase. Key Words : Aminolysis, Bronsted-type plot, Hammett plot, Yukawa-Tsuno plot IntroductionExtensive studies of the structure-reactivity relationshipsin the acyl transfer reactions from XC

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a multifunctional signaling molecule that exerts neuroprotective effects in oxidative stress. In this article, we report a mitochondria-localized two-photon probe, SHS-M2, that can be excited by 750 nm femtosecond pulses and employed for ratiometric detection of H2S in live astrocytes and living brain slices using two-photon microscopy (TPM). SHS-M2 shows bright two-photon-excited fluorescence and a marked change in emission color from blue to yellow in response to H2S, low cytotoxicity, easy loading, and minimum interference from other biologically relevant species including reactive sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen species, thereby allowing quantitative analysis of H2S levels. Molecular TPM imaging with SHS-M2 in astrocytes revealed that there is a correlation between the ratiometric analysis and expression levels of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), the major enzyme that catalyzes H2S production. In studies involving DJ-1, a Parkinson's disease (PD) gene, attenuated H2S production in comparison with wild-type controls was observed in DJ-1-knockout astrocytes and brain slices, where CBS expression was decreased. These findings demonstrate that reduced H2S levels in astrocytes may contribute to the development of PD and that SHS-M2 may be useful as a marker to detect a risk of neurodegenerative diseases, including PD.

Two-photon microscopy (TPM), which uses two photons of lower energy as the excitation source, is a vital tool in biology and clinical science, due to its capacity to image deep inside intact tissues for a long period of time. To make TPM a more versatile tool in biomedical research, we have developed a variety of two-photon probes for specific applications. In this mini review, we will briefly discuss two-photon probes for lipid rafts, lysosomes, mitochondria, and pH, and their biomedical applications. [BMB Reports 2013; 46(4): 188-194]

Elimination reactions of (E)-2,4-(NO2)2C6H2CH=NOC6H3-2-X-4-NO2 (1a-e) promoted by R3N/R3NH + in 70 mol % MeCN(aq) have been studied kinetically. The reactions are second-order and exhibit Bronsted β = 0.800.84 and |βlg| = 0.39-0.42, respectively. For all leaving groups and bases employed in this study, the β and |βlg| values remained almost the same. The results can be described by a negligible pxy interaction coefficient, pxy = ∂β/pKlg = ∂βlg/pKBH ≈ 0, which describes the interaction between the base catalyst and the leaving group. The negligible pxy interaction coefficient is consistent with the (E1cb)irr mechanism. Change of the base-solvent system from R3N/MeCN to R3N/R3NH + -70 mol % MeCN(aq) changed the reaction mechanism from E2 to (E1cb)irr. Noteworthy was the relative insensitivity of the transition state structure to the reaction mechanism change.

Mitochondria provide the energy of the cells and are the primary site of oxygen consumption and the major source of reactive oxygen species. In mitochondria, metal ions and glutathione play vital roles in maintaining their structure and the redox environment. To understand their roles in mitochondria, it is crucial to monitor each of these chemical species in the mitochondria at the cell, tissue, and organism levels. An ideal tool for such purpose is the use of two-photon microscopy (TPM). Until recently, however, there has been no report on the two-photon (TP) probes suitable for such applications. In this paper, we summarize the mitochondria-targeted TP probes for Zn2+, H2O2, and thiols, as well as their bioimaging applications.

The transition state was shifted toward theE1cb corner by an electron-withdrawing β-aryl substituentand toward the E1 intermediate and the product by astronger base in the reaction coordinate diagram. On theother hand, when the leaving group was changed from 2,4-dinitrophenoxide to picrate, the ρ value decreased but the βvalue increased. The results are in conflict with the predic-tion of the reaction coordinate diagram because both ρ and βvalues should be decreased with a better leaving group. Theunusual changes in the transition-state structure noted withthe leaving group variation have been interpreted as result-ing from a large difference in the anion-stabilizing ability ofthe leaving groups. However, the validity of this interpreta-tion remains to be verified. To determine whether a change in mechanism could berealized by introducing an even more electron-withdrawingβ-aryl substituent, we have now studied the reactions of ( E)-2,4-dinitrobenzaldehyde O-aryloxime with R

We report two-photon probes (FMg1 and FMg2) that can selectively detect intracellular free Mg(2+) ([Mg(2+)](i)) in live cells and tissues by two-photon microscopy. Combined with BCaM, a two-photon probe for near-membrane Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](m)), FMg2 allows dual-color imaging of Mg(2+)/Ca(2+) activities in live cells and [Mg(2+)](i) /[Ca(2+)](m) distributions in live tissues at a depth of 100-200 μm.

Two-photon microscopy (TPM) has become an indispensable tool in the study of biology and medicine due to the capability of this method for molecular imaging deep inside intact tissues. For the maximum utilization of TPM, a variety of two-photon (TP) probes for specific applications are needed. In this article, we report a small-molecule TP probe (ANO1) for nitric oxide (NO) that shows a rapid and specific NO response, a 68-fold fluorescence enhancement in response to NO, and a maximum TP-action cross-section of 170 GM (GM: 10(-50) cm(4) photon(-1)) upon reaction with excess NO. This probe can be easily loaded into cells and tissues and can real-time monitor NO in living tissues at 100-180 μm depth for longer than 1200 s through the use of TPM, with minimum interference from other biologically relevant species.

pH values go live! A ratiometric two-photon (TP) probe (NP1, see scheme) that has a significant TP action cross-section, high photostability, negligible toxicity, and can estimate pH values in live cells and human tissues by two-photon microscopy is described. NP1 can detect the difference in pH between live cells from the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and the lower esophageal sphincter of patients with and without esophagitis.

We report self-assembled polymeric nanovesicles composed of 1,4-bis{4′-[N,N-bis(6′′-trimethylammoniumhexyl)amino]styryl}benzene tetrabromide (C1), poly[(ethylene oxide)-block-(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonate)] (Em-An), and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C16). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs confirm the vesicular bilayer structures and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images show that the C1/Em-An/C16 complexes form spherical nanostructures with a particle size ranging from 40 to 80 nm. The encapsulation of C1 inside the nanovesicles enhances ∼2-fold the fluorescence quantum yield (η) and two-photon action cross-section (ηδ, where δ is the two-photon absorption cross-section), and allows internalization into the cells, as revealed by the bright two-photon microscopy (TPM) images of human cervical epithelioid carcinoma (HeLa) cells labeled with the nanovesicles. Moreover, nanovesicles containing a chemotherapeutic drug and a neutral molecule can also be prepared. Furthermore, the C1/vesicular complex is disassembled under acidic conditions, highlighting its potential as a pH-responsive smart nanocarrier for the intracellular drug delivery. These results suggest a new possibility of using nanovesicles as efficient two-photon probes for TPM imaging and possibly as nanocarriers for intracellular drug delivery.

Aims Establishing probe-based analysis is important for developing multi-photon microscopy (MPM) to make an early diagnosis of colon neoplasm and assess its antioxidant status. Cu(I) and Zn(II) ions are trace elements which roll as cofactors of antioxidant, superoxide dismutase. However, there have been no reports on the features of MPM image using probe of Cu(I) and Zn(II) ions. Our main objective in this study was application of newly developed multi-photon probe (MP) probe on Cu(I) and Zn(II) ions as a tool to assess antioxidative status of colon neoplasm. Methods This study was a pilot study. Colon cancer cell lines (ACT116 and HT-29), NIH3T3 cells and tissues of normal colon mucosa and colon neoplasm obtained during colonoscopic biopsy from 17 patients were stained with MP probes for Cu(I) and Zn(II) (ACu1 and AZn1). Cu(I)/Zn(II) levels in the cells and tissues were determined by detecting MP-excited fluorescence by MPM. Results MPM images of cells stained with MP probes revealed that Cu(I) was more abundant in ACT116 and HT-29 cells than in NIH3T3 cells, while Zn(II) was more abundant in NIH3T3 cells than in ACT116 and HT-29 cells. Normal tissues had a defined texture, whereas adenoma/adenocarcinoma tissues were amorphous. The level of Cu(I) increased and that of Zn(II) decreased with the transition from normal to adenoma to adenocarcinoma tissue. Conclusion MPM can be used to determine the relative Cu(I)/Zn(II) levels in cells and colon tissues by using ACu1 and AZn1 as MPM probes. These finding are new research tools for gastroenterologists to assess antioxidant status of colon neoplasm.

We developed two-photon (TP) probes for DNA (ABI-Nu), cytoplasm (Pyr-CT) and mitochondria (BF-MT). We found that ABI-Nu binds to AT in the minor groove, while ABI-Nu and BF-MT are effective for tracking in the cytoplasm and mitochondria, respectively. These probes showed very large effective two-photon action cross section values of 2230, 1555 and 790 Göppert-Mayer units (1 GM = 10−50 cm4 s photon−1molecule−1) at 740 nm with emission maxima at 473, 561 and 560 nm, respectively, in each organelle. Using these probes, we quantitatively estimated the mean nuclear area and the ratios of nuclei to cytoplasm and mitochondria to nuclei in human colon tissues by dual-colour two-photon microscopy imaging within 2 h after biopsy. The mean nuclear area and the nuclei to cytoplasm and mitochondria to cytoplasm ratios increased in the following order: normal colon mucosa

A naphthalimide-based water soluble Zn2+ sensor bearing polyamino carboxylate as a metal chelating moiety was synthesized and its application for the selective detection of Zn2+ ion in 100% aqueous solution is demonstrated. The newly developed fluorescent sensor exhibits selective binding affinity towards Zn2+ and pH insensitivity in biologically relevant range. Confocal fluorescent microscopy images indicate that this probe works effectively for intracellular Zn2+ imaging with high cell permeability.

We report two-photon Lysotrackers (CLT-blue and CLT-yellow) that can be excited by 750-840 nm femtosecond laser pulses and emit at 470 and 550 nm, respectively. They can be easily loaded into cells and tissue slices for visualization of lysosomes in live cells and tissues for a long period of time through two-photon microscopy. When combined with appropriate two-photon probes for other biological targets, these novel probes would greatly facilitate the two-photon microscopy colocalization experiments.

We report a ratiometric two-photon probe (SSH-Mito) for mitochondrial thiols. This probe shows a marked blue-to-yellow emission color change in response to RSH, a significant two-photon cross section, good mitochondrial thiol selectivity, low cytotoxicity, and insensitivity to pH over the biologically relevant pH range, allowing the direct visualization of RSH levels in live cells as well as in living tissues at 90-190 μm depth without interference from other biologically relevant species through the use of two-photon microscopy.

Nitrile-forming eliminations from (1) promoted by in 70 mol % MeCN(aq) have been studied kinetically. When X = , the reactions exhibited second-order kinetics as well as Brnsted = 0.63 and = 0.34-0.46, and an E2 mechanism is evident. As the leaving group was made poorer (X = H, Cl, and ), Brnsted value increased from 0.63 to 0.85-0.89 without much change in the value E2, indicating that structure of the transition state changed to an E1cb-like with extensive bond cleavage, significant negative charge development at the -carbon, and limited -OAr bond cleavage.

We report a two-photon (TP) probe (ACaLN) for near-membrane Ca(2+) that shows a 13-fold TP excited fluorescence (TPEF) enhancement in response to Ca(2+), dissociation constants (K(d)(TP)) of (1.9±0.2) μM, pH-insensitivity at the biologically relevant pH, and can detect near-membrane Ca(2+) in live cells for more than 1500 s and in living tissues at 120 μm depth without interference from other metal ions. Comparison with existing probes provides a useful strategy for the design of efficient TP probes for the near-membrane metal ions.

A series of Zn(2+)-selective two-photon fluorescent probes (AZnM1-AZnN) that had a wide range of dissociation constants (K(d) (TP) =8 nm-12 μM) were synthesized. These probes showed appreciable water solubility (>3 μM), cell permeability, high photostability, pH insensitivity at pH>7, significant two-photon action cross-sections (86-110 GM) upon complexation with Zn(2+), and can detect the Zn(2+) ions in HeLa cells and in living tissue slices of rat hippocampal at a depth of >80 μm without mistargeting and photobleaching problems. These probes can potentially find application in the detection of various amounts of Zn(2+) ions in live cells and intact tissues.

The lo domains, also called lipid rafts, are believed to serve as a platform to support various cellular processes such as signal transduction, membrane trafficking, pathogen invasion, cholesterol homeostasis, neurodegenerative diseases, and angiogenesis. The existence of lipid rafts has been demonstrated in mammalian cells and in model membranes by using various techniques such as atomic force microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy. To understand their roles in cell biology, it is crucial to visualize such domains in the live cells and tissues. An ideal tool for this purpose is two-photon microscopy (TPM) that utilizes two near-infrared photons for excitation. The advantages of TPM include the capability of visualizing the real-time activities of the biological targets in live cells and intact tissues at >100 mm depth with minimum interference due to the tissue preparation artifacts that can extend ~70 mm from the tissue surface. For maximum utilization of TPM, many TP probes for specific applications are needed. However, TP probes for such applications are rare. Earlier, we reported a membrane TP polarity probe, CL, which showed several advantages over laurdan including greater sensitivity to the solvent polarity, brighter TPM image, and more precise reflection of the cell environment. We also developed a TP turn-on probe, CL2, which showed larger TP action cross-section and higher sensitivity to the polarity of the environment than CL. This allowed selective detection of the lipid rafts in live cells and tissues by TPM. Unfortunately, CL2 had one shortcoming; it internalized into the cytoplasm upon prolonged incubation with cells, causing a blurred TPM image. To overcome this problem, we have designed a new TP turn-on (off-on) probe (SL2) that has sodium sulfonate in the head group and exclusively stains the plasma membrane. Herein, we report that SL2 can detect the lipid rafts in the live cells and intact tissues without internalization problems by simply collecting the TP excited fluorescence (TPEF) by using TPM. The preparation of SL2 is given in the Supporting Information. The solubility of SL2 in water was 7 mm, which is sufficient to stain the cells (Figure S1 in the Supporting Information). The change of the head group from a carboxylic acid (CL2, 4 mm) to a sulfonate increased the water solubility by ~ twofold. The absorption and emission spectra of SL2 showed gradual bathochromic shifts with increasing solvent polarity (Figure 1A and Table S1) indicating the charge-transfer character of the emitting state. The shifts were larger for the emission than for the absorption spectra (21 vs. 126 nm). Moreover, the fluorescence quantum yield (F) increased by 22-fold as the solvent was changed from EtOH/H2O (F=0.04) to THF (F=0.88). CL2 showed similar behavior except that fluorescence enhancement factor (FEF) was lower [FEF(CL2)=16 versus FEF(SL2)= 22] (Table S1). Hence, the fluorescence of SL2 is more sensitive to the polarity of the environment than that of CL2. The fluorescence intensity of SL2 showed similar decrease with the hydrophilicity of the large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) in the order, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/cholesterol (DPPC/CHL (40 mol%), lo)>DOPC/sphingomyelin/CHL (1:1:1, raft mixture)>1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC, ld ; Figure S2). The relative fluorescence intensities of SL2 in DPPC/CHL/raft mixture/DOPC in the 420–520 nm range are 7.0/4.8/1.0, respectively; SL2 emits sevenfold stronger fluorescence in the lo than in the ld domain. The slightly weaker fluorescence in the raft mixture than in DPPC/CHL can be explained if SL2 exists in 63/37 ratio in the lo/ld domains of the raft mixture with 7/1 intensity ratio (vide supra). A similar result was reported for CL2 (lo/ld=86:14). [12] This indicates high preference of these probes to reside in the lo domain, which can be attributed to the more favorable hydrophobic interactions with sphingomyelin when compared to DOPC. The sensitivity of the laurdan derivatives on the polarity of the environment originates from the intramolecular charge [a] C. S. Lim, J. H. Lee, Dr. Y. S. Tian, Prof. B. R. Cho Department of Chemistry, Korea University 1-Anamdong, Seoul, 136-701 (Korea) Fax: (+82)2-3290-3544 E-mail : chobr@korea.ac.kr [b] H. J. Kim, Prof. H. M. Kim Division of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University Suwon, 443-749 (Korea) E-mail : kimhm@ajou.ac.kr [c] Dr. C. H. Kim, Prof. T. Joo Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology Pohang, 790-784 (Korea) E-mail : thjoo@postech.ac.kr Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cbic.201000609.

The first example of cyclometalated platinum(II)-containing rhodamine probe (1) with two-photon induced luminescent properties was synthesized and investigated for mercury detection. A highly selective color change of 1, from light yellow to pink, is observed only in the presence of Hg2+ due to the formation of 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring in 2. This selectivity of Hg2+ with color changes can be observed easily by the naked-eye. Meanwhile, a remarkable turn-on and selective 20-fold fluorescent enhancement of 1 upon binding with Hg2+ over the other tested metal ions was observed. The water-soluble probe 1 was successfully applied in the visualizing of the site of Hg2+ accumulation as well as estimating of trace amounts of mercury ions in live HeLa cells by two-photon microscopy.

Two-photon absorption properties of 1,4-bis{4'-[N,N-bis(6''-trimethylammoniumhexyl)amino]styryl}benzene tetrabromide (C1) and its inclusion complexes (ICs) with cyclodextrins (CDs) have been studied. Upon complexation with CDs, the absorption spectra of C1 showed a slight red shift, whereas the emission spectra showed a blue shift with concomitant increase in the fluorescence quantum efficiency. A Stern-Volmer study using K(3)Fe(CN)(6) as a quencher revealed significant reduction in the photoinduced charge transfer quenching, in accord with the IC formation. Comparison of the spectroscopic results reveals that C1 forms increasingly more stable ICs in the order C1/beta-CDC1/gamma-CDC1/(3gamma:beta)-CD (gamma-CD/beta-CD 3:1, mole ratio). Moreover, the two-photon action cross section of C1 increased from 200 GM for C1 to 400 GM for C1/beta-CD, 460 GM for C1/gamma-CD, and 650 GM for C1/(3gamma:beta)-CD, respectively. Furthermore, the two-photon microscopy images of HeLa cells stained with C1 emitted strong two-photon excited fluorescence in the plasma membrane. These results provide a useful guideline for the development of efficient two-photon materials for bioimaging applications.

Since detergent-resistant lipid rafts play important roles in the signal transduction for myogenesis, their comprehensive proteomic analysis could provide new insights to understand their function in myotubes. Here, the detergent-resistant lipid rafts were isolated from C2C12 myotubes and analyzed by capillary RPLC/MS/MS. Among the 327 proteins (or protein groups) identified, 28% were categorized to the plasma membrane or raft proteins, 29% to mitochondria, 20% to microsomal proteins, 10% to other proteins, and 13% to unknown proteins. The localization of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes in the sarcolemma lipid rafts was further confirmed from C2C12 myotubes by cellular fractionation, surface-biotin labeling, immunofluorescence, and lipid raft fractionation. After adding exogenous cytochrome c, the sarcolemma isolated from myotubes had an ability to consume oxygen in the presence of NADH or succinate. The generation of NADH-dependent extracellular superoxide was increased by inhibiting or downregulating OXPHOS I, III, and IV in myotubes, indicating that OXPHOS proteins are major sources for extracellular ROS in skeletal muscle. With all these data, we can conclude that OXPHOS proteins are associated with the sarcolemma lipid rafts during C2C12 myogenesis to generate extracellular ROS.