Design of fluorescent sensors for the biological chemistry of zinc and copper

ORGN 41

Christoph J. Fahrni, fahrni@chemistry.gatech.edu, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 901 Atlantic Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332
Metal-responsive fluorescent probes are powerful tools for exploring the biological chemistry of trace elements in living cells. To develop fluorescent probes for the selective detection of zinc and monovalent copper in a cellular environment, several different fluorescence switching mechanisms were explored, including cation-induced excited state intramolecular proton transfer, photoinduced electron transfer, as well as modulation of intramolecular charge transfer states through cation coordination and conformational switching. Detailed analysis of the underlying photophysical mechanisms allowed for precise tuning of the fluorescence properties and switching responses.
 

Novel Fluorophores
1:00 PM-5:30 PM, Sunday, April 6, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. R05, Oral

Division of Organic Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008