The ability to detect the presence of various biomarkers in live cells is a challenging and rapidly growing field in analytical science.  Key to such detection and imaging routes is the development and evaluation of probes that respond to the presence of a target (analyte) in a highly specific and sensitive manner.  We describe here the synthesis, characterization, and implementation of a series of probes (cloaked dyes) that respond to human NAD(P)H:quinone oxoreductase enzyme (hNQO1) activity.  The probes are effectively fluorescently silent, a characteristic that results from the presence of enzymatically-responsive trigger groups on a given dye.  Upon enzyme-triggered activation and subsequent self-removal of the trigger groups, the resulting dyes are highly fluorescent.  The behavior of the dyes in the presence of human NQO1 activity, both outside of and inside human cells, including cancer cells, is presented.

Live cell imaging of NAD(P)H quinone oxoreductase isozyme 1 using cloaked fluorophores

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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