Complex Photophysical Behavior Research Articles

MEos4b Photoconversion Efficiency Depends on Laser Illumination Conditions Used in PALM.

Green-to-red photoconvertible fluorescent proteins (PCFPs) are widely employed as markers in photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM). However, their highly complex photophysical behavior complicates their usage. The fact that only a limited fraction of a PCFP ensemble can form the photoconverted state upon near-UV light illumination, termed photoconversion efficiency (PCE), lowers the achievable spatial resolution in PALM and creates undercounting errors in quantitative counting applications. Here, we show that the PCE of mEos4b is not a fixed property of this PCFP but strongly depends on illumination conditions. Attempts to reduce long-lived blinking in red mEos4b by application of 488 nm light lead to a reduction of the PCE. Furthermore, the PCE of mEos4b strongly depends on the applied 405 nm power density. A refined photophysical model of mEos4b accounts for the observed effects, involving nonlinear green-state photobleaching upon violet light illumination favored by photon absorption by a putative radical dark state.

Complex Photophysical Properties of K114 Make for a Versatile Fluorescent Probe for Amyloid Detection.

Protein aggregation is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and many other neurodegenerative disorders. Small organic fluorophores such as Congo Red preferentially bind to cross-β-sheet-rich deposits and have been used to label amyloid plaques and tau tangles in histological samples. However, distinguishing between different conformations of protein aggregates is not trivial. Using silkworm and spider silks (prototypical amyloids) and transgenic AD mouse (5XFAD) and human AD brain samples, we report how spectral confocal microscopy allowed for improved detection and differentiation of protein aggregates based on the unexpected photophysical behavior of the amyloid-specific dye K114. The pH and excitation power had pronounced effects on the emission spectrum and intensity of amyloid-bound K114 fluorescence. When bound to β-sheet-rich assemblies, the emission spectrum of K114 was governed by the local pH of the binding pockets much more than by the pH of the mounting medium, likely due to ionization of titratable phenols. Unexpectedly, exposure to high excitation power caused a permanent increase in fluorescence intensity and a spectral blue-shift. These light-induced fluorescence changes were dependent in a complex manner on laser power, exposure time, pH, and amyloid type examined. The above-mentioned phenomena were observed in silk fibers and Alzheimer brain sections from mouse and human, indicating that this may be a general characteristic of K114 when bound to tightly aggregated macromolecules. Potential mechanisms are discussed, likely involving photoinduced electron transfer. Our findings illustrate how the complex photophysical behavior of amyloid-bound K114 can be exploited for improved detection and differentiation of protein aggregates.

Chemical shift assignment of mono- and di-bromo triimidazo[1,2-a:1',2'-c:1″,2″-e][1,3,5]triazine derivatives by DFT/NMR integrated approach.

Mono- and di-bromo derivatives of triimidazo[1,2-a:1',2'-c:1″,2″-e][1,3,5]triazine have been proposed as new organic molecules presenting a very rich and complex photophysical behavior. Thus, we afforded the correct chemical shift assignment by integrating the experimental data with DFT calculation of NMR parameters. Our findings lay foundation for a structural reference in the organic synthesis and characterization of new congeners of this intriguing class of molecules.

Photophysical Behavior of mNeonGreen, an Evolutionarily Distant Green Fluorescent Protein

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) feature complex photophysical behavior that must be considered when studying the dynamics of fusion proteins in model systems and live cells. In this work, we characterize mNeonGreen (mNG), a recently introduced FP from the bilaterian Branchiostoma lanceolatum, in comparison to the well-known hydrozoan variants enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and Aequorea coerulescens GFP by steady-state spectroscopy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy in solutions of different pH. Blind spectral unmixing of sets of absorption spectra reveals three interconverting electronic states of mNG: a nonfluorescent protonated state, a bright state showing bell-shaped pH dependence, and a similarly bright state dominating at high pH. The gradual population of the acidic form by external protonation is reflected by increased flickering at low pH in fluorescence correlation spectroscopy measurements, albeit with much slower flicker rates and lower amplitudes as compared to Aequorea GFPs. In addition, increased flickering of mNG indicates a second deprotonation step above pH 10 leading to a slight decrease in fluorescence. Thus, mNG is distinguished from Aequorea GFPs by a two-step protonation response with opposite effects that reflects a chemically distinct chromophore environment. Despite the more complex pH dependence, mNG represents a superior FP under a broad range of conditions.

Photophysical Behavior of mNeonGreen, an Evolutionary Distant Green Fluorescent Protein

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) feature complex photophysical behavior that must be considered when studying the dynamics of fusion-proteins in model systems and live cells. In particular, molecular brightness depends on the dynamics of short-lived dark states leading to flickering of the fluorescence signal. In this work, we characterize mNeonGreen (mNG), a recently introduced FP from Branchiostoma lanceolatum, in comparison to EGFP and AcGFP from Aequorea species. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is used to determine flickering and molecular brightness of purified proteins in solutions of different pH. The molecular brightness of mNG is consistently higher as compared to the traditional GFPs, but decreases slightly under acidic and basic conditions. Consistently, an advanced analysis of steady state spectroscopy data resolves two additional chromophore states with reduced quantum yield that build up at low and high pH. Thus, mNG is distinguished from traditional GFPs by a two-step protonation response that reflects a chemically distinct chromophore environment. Despite the more complex pH dependence, mNG represents a superior GFP under a broad range of conditions.

Color-Tunable Heterodinuclear Pt(II)/B(III) and Pt(II)/Ir(III) Arrays with N^O-julolidine Ligands.

The synthesis and photophysical properties of two multichromophoric systems, Pt(II)/B(III) and Pt(II)/Ir(III), based on novel N^O-julolidine ligands are reported. The functionalization of the julolidine core enables the introduction of two different anchoring sites, a terminal acetylene and an N^O chelating moiety, which allow the assembling of two different chromophoric centers. The complex photophysical behavior of these multicomponent arrays is rationalized by investigating a series of model compounds, which are prepared through specific synthetic pathways. The photophysical properties of the final multicomponent arrays are investigated in parallel with the models. The multichromophoric system, composed by a platinum(II) and an iridium(III) chromophore connected through a modified julolidine ditopic ligand, displays a peculiar excitation wavelength dependent luminescence behavior. It exhibits tuning of the emission color from blue to orange, passing through pure and warm white.

Towards ratiometric sensing of amyloid fibrils in vitro.

The aggregation of amyloid-β peptide and its accumulation in the human brain has an important role in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease. Thioflavin T has been widely used as a fluorescent marker for these amyloid aggregates. Nevertheless, its complex photophysical behavior, with strong wavelength dependencies of all its fluorescence properties, requires searching for new fluorescent probes. The use of 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (HPIP), which shows two emission bands and a rich excited-state behavior due to the existence of excited-state intramolecular processes of proton transfer and charge transfer, is proposed. These properties result in a high sensitivity of HPIP fluorescence to its microenvironment and cause a large differential fluorescence enhancement of the two bands upon binding to aggregates of the amyloid-β peptide. Based on this behavior, a very sensitive ratiometric method is established for the detection and quantification of amyloid fibrils, which can be combined with the monitoring of fluorescence anisotropy. The binding selectivity of HPIP is discussed on the basis of the apparent binding equilibrium constants of this probe to amyloid-β (1-42) fibrils and to the nonfibrillar protein bovine serum albumin. Finally, an exhaustive comparison between HPIP and thioflavin T is presented to discuss the sensitivity and specificity of these probes to amyloid aggregates and the significant advantages of the HPIP dye for quantitative determinations.

Photophysical study of Thioflavin T as fluorescence marker of amyloid fibrils

Thioflavin T is a highly sensitive fluorescent marker of amyloid fibrils that has been widely used for in vitro biomedical assays. However, neither its complex photophysical behavior nor its binding mode to amyloid fibrils are still well understood. We present a detailed analysis of the photophysical properties of Thioflavin T in various media, including solvents and solvent mixtures of different viscosities as well as fibrillar and globular proteins. We propose a model that explains the strong wavelength dependency of the Thioflavin T fluorescence and the large fluorescence enhancement in certain environments. We determine the binding affinities and the fluorescence properties of Thioflavin T bound to amyloid-β (1–42) fibrils and to bovine serum albumin and discuss the sensitivity and the specificity of this probe to amyloid aggregates. These results allow us to assess the suitability of Thioflavin T for quantitative determinations in biomedical studies.

Triplet Formation by Charge Recombination in Thin Film Blends of Perylene Red and Pyrene: Developing a Target Model for the Photophysics of Organic Photovoltaic Materials

Photoinduced charge separation in a mixture of Perylene Red (N,N'-bis(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)-1,6,7,12-tetraphenoxyperylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid bis-imide) and pyrene, organized in thin solid film on quartz, was studied by means of steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopy and by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Steady state spectroscopy shows substantial interaction between the two chromophores in the ground and excited states. Luminescence quenching indicates charge transfer interaction. Global and target analysis of the transient absorption data indicates a complex photophysical behavior with the formation of long-lived charges (free charge carriers) and of a triplet excited state species (with rates of ∼10.4 × 10(9) and 72.1 × 10(6) s(-1)) via charge recombination pathways from charged states. A generally applicable target model for the analysis of photophysical data of photovoltaic blends is developed.

Pyridinium and imidazolium 1,3,4-oxadiazole ionic liquid crystals: a thermal and photophysical systematic investigation

In this study we present the synthesis and complete structural characterization of twenty five 1,3,4-oxadiazole molecules (ionic and non-ionic) with some systematic structural variations, such as number of counterions, number of alkoxy chains, alkyl chain size, type of counterion and its position on the molecule. The thermal and photophysical properties for all compounds were investigated allowing a complete and interesting simultaneous study of the effect of structural changes on these properties. We show that every parameter studied affected both the thermal and photophysical properties. For these bent core molecules, the liquid crystalline behavior was observed only for compounds containing one counterion, SmA (monolayer or bilayer) being the predominant phase. The neutral (non-ionic) compounds and the imidazolium derivatives showed emission at around 360 nm and a high quantum yield, while most of the pyridinium derivatives showed emission at around 530 nm, a low quantum yield and a complex photophysical behavior. In all cases, the quantum yield for the different counterions follows the sequence ClO4− > BF4− > DS− > NO3− > Br−(I−).

Photofunctional Self-Assembled Nanostructures Formed by Perylene Diimide−Gold Nanoparticle Hybrids

We report on the synthesis of organic dye-metal nanoparticle hybrids from two thiol-derivatized perylenediimide (PDI) ligands and 1.5 nm gold nanoparticles. The hybrids form spherical nanostructures when cast from 40% methanol/chloroform solution and toluene. The spherical aggregates are in the size range 50-230 nm in 40% MeOH/CHCl(3) mixture and 100-400 nm in toluene solution, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements show that these spherical aggregates are vesicles with a hollow interior. The π-π interactions of the perylenediimides are the predominant driving force leading to the aggregation of the hybrids, whereby the sizes of the nanospheres can be regulated via the PDI linker moiety and solvent choice. Femtosecond transient absorption studies of the hybrids reveal complex photophysical behavior involving electron transfer from the gold nanoparticles to the PDI moieties. This study shows that the formation of well-defined hybrid nanostructures as well as tuning their sizes can be achieved through employing a combination of the capping ligand choice and regulating the solvophobic interactions between the ligands.

Subpicosecond Kinetic Polarization Spectroscopic Study of the Complex Photophysical Behavior of Solutions of 9,9‘-Bianthryl

Several new aspects of the complex photophysical behavior of solutions of 9,9‘-bianthryl are reported. They have been revealed by the time dependencies of the depolarization of the fluorescence and the photoinduced transient optical absorptions of these solutions. A comparison is provided with the depolarization kinetics in the case of solutions of anthracene. The observed depolarization behavior is interpreted on the basis of a theoretical treatment which is presented in some detail. The main conclusions are summarized at the end of the publication.

Living and stereoselective polymerization of [2.2]‐paracyclophan‐2‐ENE derivatives

AbstractParacyclophene based monomers can be polymerized in a living fashion using the alkylidene initiator Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)(OCMe(CF3)2)2. The cis‐specific nature of the polymerization is critical, since small amounts of trans olefin in the backbone renders the material insoluble. These polymers have complex photophysical behavior, probably a consequence of the close proximity of chromophores along the polymer backbone. Polymerization of 9‐(tert‐butyldimethylsilyloxy)‐[2.2]‐paracyclophan‐1‐ene produces a new precursor material which furnishes PPV under remarkably mild conditions.