A novel coumarin‐based fluorescent probe for selective detection of cysteine over homocysteine

Abstract

AbstractA coumarin‐based fluorescent probe containing both acrylate moiety and an allyl substituent was developed for distinguishing cysteine from homocysteine. The maximum absorption wavelength of the probe showed a bathochromic shift upon addition of cysteine and the colour changed from colourless to yellow. The maximum fluorescence emission at 462 nm of the probe was dramatically enhanced upon addition of cysteine in aqueous solution. In HEPES buffer (pH = 7.4, EtOH/H2O = 9:1, v/v), both of the fluorescence emission bands of the probe at ca. 390 and 462 nm were intensely enhanced upon the addition of cysteine, while other amino acids, namely, homocysteine, asparaginic acid, methionine, glycine, phenylalaninase, valine, tryptophan, serine, glutamic acid and glutathione, did not cause a remarkable change. The probe can be used for selectively colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent detection of cysteine over homocysteine and other common amino acids in both organic media and aqueous solution. The concentration of cysteine can be estimated by titration of the probe in aqueous solution, and the detection limit of the probe towards cysteine was 2 μmol/L.