Acta Chimica Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 83 ›› Issue (8): 816-826.DOI: 10.6023/A25040102 Previous Articles     Next Articles

Article

无需催化剂的光介导生物正交荧光探针实例

赵玉强a, 那迪a, 和晓波a, 朱立平b, 周莹b,*(), 曾广智a,*(), 樊保敏a,*()   

  1. a 云南民族大学 化学与环境学院、云南省手性功能物质研究与利用重点实验室 昆明 650504
    b 云南大学 化学科学与工程学院 昆明 650091
  • 投稿日期:2025-04-01 发布日期:2025-05-08
  • 通讯作者: 周莹, 曾广智, 樊保敏
  • 基金资助:
    云南省手性功能物质研究与利用重点实验室(202402AN360010); 云南省科技厅-基础研究专项-重大项目(202401BC070018); 云南省科技厅-云南大学联合特殊项目(202201BF070001-001); 国家自然科学基金(22067019); 国家自然科学基金(22367023)

A Catalyst-Free Example of Photomediated Biological Orthogonal Fluorescence Probes

Yu-Qiang Zhaoa, Di Naa, Xiaobo Hea, Liping Zhub, Ying Zhoub,*(), Guang-Zhi Zenga,*(), Baomin Fana,*()   

  1. a Yunnan Key Laboratory of Chiral Functional Substance Research and Application, School of Chemistry & Environment, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650504, Yunnan, China
    b College of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China
  • Received:2025-04-01 Published:2025-05-08
  • Contact: Ying Zhou, Guang-Zhi Zeng, Baomin Fan
  • Supported by:
    Yunnan Key Laboratory of Chiral Functional Substance Research and Application(202402AN360010); Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology-Basic Research-Major project(202401BC070018); Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department-Yunnan University Joint Special Project(202201BF070001-001); National Natural Science Foundation of China(22067019); National Natural Science Foundation of China(22367023)

A bioorthogonal fluorescent probe, NATz, was meticulously crafted by incorporating 1,8-naphthalimide onto a 1,2,4,5-tetrazine group endowed with bioorthogonal reaction activity. The spectral examination revealed the activation of fluorescence following the interaction between NATz and trans-cyclooctene (TCO) in a phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution. Systematic time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations elucidate that the fluorescence quenching and activation of NATz are predominantly mediated by a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism, involving excited-state charge redistribution between the tetrazine moiety and naphthalimide fluorophore. Significantly, the UV light at 365 nm substantially accelerated the reaction rate between NATz and TCO. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) confirmed that 365 nm UV irradiation exclusively promotes inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) adduct formation, with no detectable photodegradation byproducts under the experimental conditions. Integrated with reaction pathway calculations, these data conclusively establish that light enhances the bioorthogonal IEDDA reaction between 1,2,4,5-tetrazine (NATz) and TCO by photon energy transfer surpassing the reaction energy barrier. The MTS cytotoxicity assay revealed that NATz, even at elevated concentrations (40 μmol/L), maintained cell proliferation inhibition rates below 30% across five cell lines (LO2, BEAS-2B, HeLa, HepG2, and A549), thereby confirming its favorable biocompatibility. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) confirms NAtz's suitability for light-activated bioimaging applications, achieving cellular-resolution visualization in single cells and intact multicellular organisms (e.g., Caenorhabditis elegans). In order to further verify the applicability of light-mediated bioorthogonal fluorescent probes, a lysosome-targeted morpholine group was introduced on the basis of NATz, and the lysosome-targeted bioorthogonal fluorescent probe Lyso-NATz was prepared. The spectral test results indicated that after the introduction of the morpholine group, this series of probes still maintained the characteristics of photomediated bioorthogonal imaging. Meanwhile, the cytotoxicity experiment proved that the introduction of the morpholine group did not affect its biocompatibility. Finally, Lyso-NATz was used to achieve photomediated bioorthogonal fluorescence imaging targeting lysosomes at the cellular level.

Key words: photomediated, bioorthogonal chemistry, fluorescence probe, tetrazine, targeting to lysosomes