Selective staining of target regions of cells is an ongoing challenge with implications for understanding both structure and function in such regions.  Fluorescent probes provide a convenient method of reporting on the functionality and presence/quantity of important biomolecules such as nucleic acids or lipids in that region. Nucleic acid stains are ubiquitous in molecular biology research, used in techniques ranging from gel electrophoresis to flow cytometry. We have begun to use theory-aided molecular engineering to develop biocompatible optical probes that interact with specific cellular targets with high affinity, photostability, and brightness but low toxicity.  We have developed and characterized a prototype probe known as DANPY-1, which has similar binding affinity and spectral range to benchmark dye ethidium bromide. However, DANPY is both brighter than ethidium bromide and non-mutagenic in a S. cerevisiae yeast model. We report synthetic details, results on interactions of the dye with biopolymers in vitro, and toxicity data in yeast and algae models.

DANPY: Novel fluorescent probe for nucleic acids

248th National Meeting (2014)

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