ORGN 303 |
Zn(II)-dipicolylamine coordination complexes as sensors for phosphatidylserine containing membranes
| Lakshmi Chakkumkumarath, Roger G Hanshaw, and Bradley D. Smith. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, 251Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 |
| A series of Zn(II)-dipicolylamine (DPA) coordination complexes with an attached fluorophore are synthesized and evaluated as sensors for phosphatidylserine containing membranes. The sensors respond to anionic membranes containing phosphatidylserine (PS), but fail to evoke any response in the presence of zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles. These sensors are specific for membrane-bound PS and show no response to monodispersed PS in aqueous solution. Unlabeled Zn(II)-dipicolylamine complexes find application as PS sensor in an indicator displacement assay for the detection of PS. The detection of apoptosis using fluorescent-labeled annexin V utilizes the protein’s affinity for externalized PS in the early stages of apoptosis. The affinity of these compounds for anionic membranes makes them an attractive alternative for apoptosis detection. 
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