A highly selective and sensitive near-infrared fluorescent probe for imaging of hydrogen sulphide in living cells and mice.

Yi Liu,Ling Zhang,Yanguo Shang,En Lai,Jing Zhao,Fang Zou,Wenqi Meng,Xi Emily Zheng,Zhichen Xu

doi:10.1038/srep18868

Abstract

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), the third endogenous gaseous signalling molecule, has attracted attention in biochemical research. The selective detection of H2S in living systems is essential for studying its functions. Fluorescence detection methods have become useful tools to explore the physiological roles of H2S because of their real-time and non-destructive characteristics. Herein we report a near-infrared fluorescent probe, NIR-HS, capable of tracking H2S in living organisms. With high sensitivity, good selectivity and low cytotoxicity, NIR-HS was able to recognize both the exogenous and endogenous H2S in living cells. More importantly, it realized the visualization of endogenous H2S generated in cells overexpressing cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), one of the enzymes responsible for producing endogenous H2S. The probe was also successfully applied to detect both the exogenous and endogenous H2S in living mice. The superior sensing properties of the probe render it a valuable research tool in the H2S-related medical research.

Highlights

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), the third endogenous gaseous signalling molecule, has attracted attention in biochemical research
It is known that the thiolysis of the dinitrophenyl ether reaction can be chemoselective for H2S over biothiols[38]
Probe NIR-HS was constructed by connecting a dinitrophenyl group to hemicyanine via an ether-linkage (Fig. 1)

Summary

Results and Discussion

SNP (Sodium Nitroprusside, a NO donor, could induce the production of endogenous H2S) and probe showed a maked elevation in the fluorescence intensities from the abdominal area of the mice (Fig. 6, panel E, R = 3.4 in column E), indicating that NIR-HS was sensitive enough to detect endogenous H2S in living mice. These experiments suggested that NIR-HS is suitable for monitoring exogenous and endogenous H2S in living mice. Advantages of this H2S-specific probe include emission in the NIR region, a low detection limit, high sensitivity, good selectivity and low cytotoxicity This probe enables fluorescence imaging of endogenous H2S induced by SNP in living cells, and detects endogenous H2S generated in cells overexpressing cystathionine β -synthase (CBS). We are currently pursuing other strategies to develop more sensitive and specific fluorescent sensors for monitoring H2S in living animails, as well as the H2S-related medical studies

All fluorescence measurements were conducted at room temperature on a Hitachi

Author Contributions

Additional Information