A fluorescent ?-probe: quantitative imaging of ultra-trace endogenous hydrogen polysulfide in cells and in vivo.

ABSTRACT: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has been recognized as an important endogenous gasotransmitter associated with biological signaling transduction. However, recent biological studies implied that the H₂S-related cellular signaling might actually be mediated by hydrogen polysulfides (H₂S _n , n > 1), not H₂S itself. Unraveling such a mystery strongly demanded the quantification of endogenous H₂S _n in living systems. However, endogenous H₂S _n has been undetectable thus far, due to its extremely low concentration within cells. Herein, we demonstrated a strategy to detect ultra-trace endogenous H₂S _nvia a fluorescent ?-probe, through changes of fluorescence lifetime instead of fluorescence intensity. This ?-probe exhibited an ultrasensitive response to H₂S _n , bringing about the lowest value of the detection limit (2 nM) and a lower limit of quantification (10 nM) to date. With such merits, we quantified and mapped endogenous H₂S _n within cells and zebrafish. The quantitative information about endogenous H₂S _n in cells and in vivo may have a significant implication for future research on the role of H₂S _n in biology. The methodology of the ?-probe established here might provide a general insight into the design and application of any fluorescent probes, beyond the limit of utilizing fluorescence intensity.

SUBMITTER: Yang F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6050607 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature