Fluorescent sensors that selectively bind to catecholamines are valuable to study release of the transmitter and to label catecholinergic tissues. We have developed fluorescence-based turn-on molecular sensors based on a coumarin aldehyde scaffold that allow for the selective recognition and sensing of norepinephrine in live and fixed chromaffin cells. Distinct fluorescent punctae are observed in norepinephrine-enriched chromaffin cells loaded with these sensors that are consistent with labeling of granules. Upon stimulation with BaCl<sub>2</sub> or a high-K<sup>+</sup> solution, puctae abruptly disappear during TIRF imaging, consistent with granule fusion and loss of dye via exocytosis. Using underlying transparent electrodes, we recorded amperometric spikes consistent with quantal exocytosis of catecholamine in cells loaded with the sensor.

Imaging with novel catecholamine-selective fluorescent sensors

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.