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A fluorescent probe based on a phenylalanine derivative is capable of sequential detection of Zn2+ and Cys/His

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Abstract

A facile and dual fluorescent chemosensor (named 7-IDF) based on a phenylalanine derivative with an indole group was designed and synthesized. 7-IDF can selectively and sensitively detect Zn2+ via obvious fluorescence enhancement in an aqueous solution. Remarkably, the 7-IDF-Zn complex with blue luminescence has higher selectivity toward cysteine (Cys) and histidine (His) than for other amino acids. Intriguingly, 7-IDF can also be used as an excellent probe to detect Zn2+ in real water samples. Moreover, 7-IDF and 7-IDF-Zn possess excellent biocompatibility and cell permeability, and 7-IDF can consecutively detect Zn2+ and Cys/His in Hela cells through fluorescence imaging experiments. This study suggests that the phenylalanine-based chemosensor possesses great potential applications for the sequential detection of Zn2+ and Cys/His in biosystems.

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The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21807058) and the Research Foundation of Education Bureau of Hunan Province (21A0279).

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  1. Qiu-Yu Yu and Chuan-Wan Wei contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China

    Qiu-Yu Yu, Chuan-Wan Wei, Xiao-Juan Wang, Xin-Yi Tong & Ying-Wu Lin

  2. Key Lab of Protein Structure and Function of Universities in Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China

    Shu-Qin Gao & Ying-Wu Lin

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  1. Qiu-Yu Yu
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  2. Chuan-Wan Wei
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Correspondence to Xiao-Juan Wang or Ying-Wu Lin.

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Yu, QY., Wei, CW., Wang, XJ. et al. A fluorescent probe based on a phenylalanine derivative is capable of sequential detection of Zn2+ and Cys/His. J Biol Inorg Chem 28, 205–211 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-022-01984-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-022-01984-x

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