An ‘OFF–ON’ fluorescent probe for specially recognize on Cys and its application in bioimaging

• The compound, N-[4-Methylcoumarin-7-yl]maleimide was firstly synthesized.
• The compound exhibits highly selective recognition of cysteine over Hcy and GSH.
• Its potential application to bioimaging was also illustrated.

Up to date, the design of highly selective probes for Cys, Hcy, and GSH is still a challenge and very few examples have been reported so far. In this work, the compound, N-[4-Methylcoumarin-7-yl] maleimide was synthesized and it can specially recognize on Cys as an ‘OFF–ON’ fluorescent probe. For specific recognition on Cys of probe depends on its maleimide group, the structural and acidic differences of biothiol itself. Furthermore, the ability of probe to detect Cys in living cells (HepG2 cells) via an enhancement of the fluorescence was proved.

N-[4-Methylcoumarin-7-yl]maleimide was firstly to be developed as a probe which exhibits highly selective recognition of cysteine. The detection limit was found to be as low as 74 nmol/L. Its potential application to bioimaging was also illustrated.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide