A new peptide-based chemosensor for selective imaging of copper ion and hydrogen sulfide in living cells

• Published in: Microchemical journal 2020-05, Vol.154, p.104658, Article 104658
• Main Authors: Hao, Chaowei, Li, Yongxin, Fan, Baomin, Zeng, Guangzhi, Zhang, Danni, Bian, Zhaoxiang, Wu, Jiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cells imaging; Copper ion detection; Hydrogen sulfide detection; Peptide-based
• ISSN: 0026-265X; 1095-9149
• DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2020.104658

•A novel fluorescence peptide-based chemsensor L was designed and synthesized to identify Cu2+ and H2S with a high selectivity.•L can detect the presence of Cu2+and H2S with a notable fluorescence on-off-on behavior.•L shows good water solubility, low biotoxicity, and can achieving biological sensing in living cells. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), like CO and NO, is an endogenous gas signal molecule that can play a vital role in many physiological processes. Therefore, it's of great significance to study the efficient and sensitive imaging technology of H2S in vivo. Copper is an essential trace element in the human body that is very important for many cellular functions and related metabolic processes. In this study we report the design of a peptide L (FITC-Ahx-His-Glu-Phe-His-NH2) that can act as an “On-Off-On” fluorescent chemical sensor to detect Cu2+ and S2−, and cysteine (Cys) and glutathione (GSH) can also replace Cu2+ from L-Cu system. The capability of this peptide fluorescent probe to detect H2S in HeLa cells is also evaluated. [Display omitted]