Aggregation behavior of novel heptamethine cyanine dyes upon their binding to native and fibrillar lysozyme.

Two newly synthesized symmetrical heptamethine cyanine dyes, AK7-5 and AK7-6, absorbing in the region of low autofluorescence of biological samples, have been tested for their ability to detect proteins aggregated into amyloid fibrils. In aqueous solution these probes possess three absorption bands corresponding to the monomer, dimer and H-aggregate species. The association of the dye with fibrillar lysozyme was followed by the enhancement of the monomer band and the reduction of the H-band. The absorption spectra measured at various fibril concentrations were analyzed in terms of the model allowing for the shift of equilibria between various dye species due to the binding of monomers and dimers of AK7-5 and AK7-6 to amyloid fibrils. The association constants and stoichiometries of the dye-fibril complexation have been evaluated. In contrast to fibrillar lysozyme, the native protein brought about strong J-aggregate formation accompanied by a marked drop in the absorbance of the dye monomer species. Quantum chemical calculations and simple docking studies showed that AK7-5 and AK7-6 monomers can bind to the grooves, running parallel to the fibril axis. Due to their ability to distinguish between the native and fibrillar protein states, the novel cyanines are recommended as complementary to existing amyloid markers.

Liposomal Co-Encapsulation of Two Novel Europium Complexes and Doxorubicin: Fluorescence Study.

The present study was undertaken to design the novel liposomal drug formulation containing doxorubicin and europium coordination complexes. It was shown that co-encapsulation of the drugs facilitates the partitioning and permeation of lanthanides into the lipid bilayer. The obtained results suggest that new drug platform may have potential application in the design of novel antitumor agents.

Small molecule probes finely differentiate between various ds- and ss-DNA and RNA by fluorescence, CD and NMR response.

Two small molecules showed intriguing properties of analytical multipurpose probes, whereby one chromophore gives different signal for many different DNA/RNA by application of several highly sensitive spectroscopic methods. Dyes revealed pronounced fluorescence ratiomeric differentiation between ds-AU-RNA, AT-DNA and GC-DNA in approximate order 10:8:1. Particularly interesting, dyes showed specific fluorimetric response for poly rA even at 10-fold excess of any other ss-RNA, and moreover such emission selectivity is preserved in multicomponent ss-RNA mixtures. The dyes also showed specific chiral recognition of poly rU in respect to the other ss-RNA by induced CD (ICD) pattern in visible range (400-500 nm), which was attributed to the dye-side-chain contribution to binding (confirmed by absence of any ICD band for reference compound lacking side-chain). Most intriguingly, minor difference in the side-chain attached to dye chromophore resulted in opposite sign of dye-ICD pattern, whereby differences in NMR NOESY contacts and proton chemical shifts between two dye/oligo rU complexes combined with MD simulations and CD calculations attributed observed bisignate ICD to the dimeric dye aggregate within oligo rU.

Symmetric Meso-Chloro-Substituted Pentamethine Cyanine Dyes Containing Benzothiazolyl/Benzoselenazolyl Chromophores Novel Synthetic Approach and Studies on Photophysical Properties upon Interaction with bio-Objects.

A series of symmetric pentamethine cyanine dyes derived from various N-substituted benzothiazolium/benzoselenazolium salts, and a conjugated bis-aniline derivative containing a chlorine atom at meso-position with respect to the polymethine chain, were synthesized using a novel improved synthetic approach under mild conditions at room temperature. The reaction procedure was held by grinding the starting compounds for relative short times. The novel method is reliable and highly reproducible. Some photophysical characteristics were recorded in various solvents, including absorption, and fluorescence quantum yields using Cy-5 as a reference. Additional studies on interactions with several bio-objects such as liposomes, DNA, and proteins have been investigated in the present work.

Probing protein-lipid interactions by FRET between membrane fluorophores.

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a powerful fluorescence technique that has found numerous applications in medicine and biology. One area where FRET proved to be especially informative involves the intermolecular interactions in biological membranes. The present study was focused on developing and verifying a Monte-Carlo approach to analyzing the results of FRET between the membrane-bound fluorophores. This approach was employed to quantify FRET from benzanthrone dye ABM to squaraine dye SQ-1 in the model protein-lipid system containing a polycationic globular protein lysozyme and negatively charged lipid vesicles composed of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol. It was found that acceptor redistribution between the lipid bilayer and protein binding sites resulted in the decrease of FRET efficiency. Quantification of this effect in terms of the proposed methodology yielded both structural and binding parameters of lysozyme-lipid complexes.

Synthesis and physicochemical properties of novel lophine derivatives as chemiluminescent in vitro activators for detection of free radicals.

The overproduction of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proved as a basic damage mechanism and cause for oxidative stress. Their measurement is often hindered by the low signal. This could be resolved with the application of luminescent probes (lophines, luminol, lucigenin, etc.). The focus of this study is to synthesize and describe the spectral properties and physicochemical characteristics of lophine and its derivatives as new chemiluminescent in vitro activators. The prepared luminophores are analogues of lophine. Their absorption maxima are in the range 329-340 nm, with good-to-high extinction coefficients. Their spectral properties are measured in methanol and buffer solutions with pH 3.5, 7.4 and 8.5. Same conditions were applied in the systems for chemiluminescent assay in vitro: (1) Fenton's (Fe(2+)+H2O2) for the generation of ·OH and -OH species, (2) Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), (3) Iron (II) sulfate (FeSO4), (4) Glutathione-peroxidase, monitoring the deactivation of H2O2, (5) Ascorbic acid-Fenton's reagent: Vit.C appears a strong oxidant, generating free-radical products when applied in higher than physiological concentrations, (6) Reduced α-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-phenazine methosulfate-for the generation of superoxide radicals (O2 (·-)). Lophine and all novel compounds do not alter the kinetics, except of the dimethyl amino substituted derivative (4-(3a,11b-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethylaniline) in the glutathione-peroxidase system, at pH 8.5. Same derivative showed a comparable or higher activity than Lucigenin and Rhodamine 6G. In neutral and acidic medium, in the Fenton's system, Rhodamine 6G was the most appropriate probe. In alkaline pH and oxidant H2O2, Lucigenin induced a signal twice as strong as the signal compared to all other activators.

New fluorogenic dyes for analysis of cellular processes by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.

Fluorescent microscopy and fluorescent imaging by flow cytometry are two of the fastest growing areas in the medical and biological research. Innovations in fluorescent chemistry and synthesis of new dye probes are closely related to the development of service equipment such as light sources, and detection techniques. Among compounds known as fluorescent labels, the cyanine-based dyes have become widely used since they have high excitation coefficients, narrow emission bands and high fluorescence upon binding to nucleic acids. The key methods for evaluation of apoptosis and cell cycle allow measuring DNA content by several flow cytometric techniques. We have synthesized new monomethine cyanine dyes and have characterized their applicability for staining of live and/or apoptotic cells. Imaging experiments by flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) have been also performed. Two of the dyes have shown high-affinity binding to the nuclei at high dilutions, up to 10(-9)M. Flow cytometry and CLSM have confirmed that these dyes labeled selectively non-living, e.g. ethanol-fixed cells that makes them appropriate for estimations of cell viability and apoptosis. The novel structures proved to be appropriate also for analysis of the cell cycle.

Probing the structural properties of DNA/RNA grooves with sterically restricted phosphonium dyes: screening of dye cytotoxicity and uptake.

To explore in greater detail the recently reported rare kinetic differentiation between homo-polymeric and alternating AT-DNA sequences by using sterically restricted phosphonium dyes that form dimers within the DNA minor groove, new analogues were prepared in which the quinolone phosphonium moiety was kept constant, while the size and hydrogen bonding properties of the rest of the molecule were varied. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that a slight increase in length by an additional methylene unit results in loss of kinetic AT selectivity, but yielded an AT-selective fluorescence response. These DNA/RNA-groove-bound dyes combine very low cytotoxicity with efficient cellular uptake and intriguingly specific fluorescent marking of mitochondria. In contrast to longer analogues, a decrease in length (by methylene unit removal) and rearrangement of positive charge resulted in dyes that had switched to the intercalative binding mode to GC DNA/dsRNA but that still form dimers in the minor groove of AT sequences, consequently yielding a significantly different chiro-optical response. The latter dyes also revealed strongly selective antiproliferative activity toward HeLa cancer cells.

Fluorescence study of the membrane effects of aggregated lysozyme.

The last decade has seen unprecedented upsurge of interest in the structural and toxic properties of particular type of protein aggregates, amyloid fibrils, associated with a number of pathological states. In the present study fluorescence spectroscopy technique has been employed to gain further insight into the membrane-related mechanisms of amyloid toxicity. To this end, erythrocyte model system composed of liposomes and hemoglobin was subjected to the action of oligomeric and fibrillar lysozyme. Acrylamide quenching of lysozyme fluorescence showed that solvent accessibility of Trp62 and Trp108 increases upon the protein fibrillization. Resonance energy transfer measurements suggested the possibility of direct complexation between hemoglobin and aggregated lysozyme. Using the novel squaraine dye SQ-1 it was demonstrated that aggregated lysozyme is capable of inhibiting lipid peroxidation processes. Fluorescent probes pyrene, Prodan and diphenylhexatriene were employed to characterize the membrane-modifying properties of hemoglobin and lysozyme. Both oligomeric and fibrillar forms of lysozyme were found to exert condensing influence on lipid bilayer structure, with the membrane effects of fibrils being less amenable to modulation by hemoglobin.

Novel fluorescent dyes for single DNA molecule techniques.

To answer the demands of scientific and medical imaging issues, the family of nucleic acid fluorescent dyes is constantly enlarging. Most of the developed dyes reveal high qualities in bulk solution assays but are inefficient to produce a strong and sufficiently stable signal to enable the application of single-molecule techniques. Therefore, we tested 12 novel monomeric and homodimeric cyanine dyes for potential single DNA molecule imaging. Although their qualities in bulk solutions have already been described, nothing was known about their behavior on a single-molecule level. All 12 dyes demonstrated strong emission when intercalated into single DNA molecules and stretched on a silanized surface, which makes them the perfect choice for fluorescent microscopy imaging. A comparison of their fluorescence intensity and photostability with the most applicable dyes in single-molecule techniques, fluorescent dyes YOYO-1 and POPO-3, was carried out. They all exhibited a strong signal, comparable to that of YOYO-1. However, in contrast to YOYO-1, which is visualized under a green filter only, their emission permits red filter visualization. As their photostability highly exceeds that of similar spectrum POPO-3 dye, the studied dyes stand out as the best choice for a broad range of solid surface single-molecule applications when yellow to red DNA backbone fluorescence is needed.

Europium coordination complexes as potential anticancer drugs: their partitioning and permeation into lipid bilayers as revealed by pyrene fluorescence quenching.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the membrane-associating properties of a series of novel antitumor agents, Eu(III) coordination complexes (EC), using the pyrene fluorescence quenching as an analytical instrument. Analysis of EC-induced decrease in pyrene fluorescence intensity in terms of partition and solubility-diffusion models allowed us to evaluate the partition and permeation coefficients of the examined compounds into the lipid vesicles prepared from zwitterionic lipid phosphatidylcholine (PC) and its mixtures with cholesterol (Chol) and anionic lipid cardiolipin (CL). The drug-lipid interactions were found to have the complex nature determined by both EC structure and lipid bilayer composition. High values of the obtained partition and permeation coefficients create the background for the development of EC liposomal formulations.

Method for analysis of different oligosacchiride structures.

In this study, an improved, rapid, high yield synthesis of N,N'-4,4'-bis(benzyl-2-boronic acid)-bipyridinium dibromide (o-BBV) is described. The obtained o-BVV is applied in a two-component saccharide sensing system (complex) where it serves as a fluorescence quencher and a saccharide receptor. This system was applied to different natural oligosaccharides isolated from molluscan Rapana venosa (RvH1-a) and arthropodan Carcinus aestuarii (CaeH) hemocyanins (Hcs) and cyclodextrins (CDs). The carbohydrate contents of both Hcs were calculated in our previous work to be 1,6 % and 7 % for CaeH and RvH1-a, respectively. We propose that the difference in fluorescence increase of the native CaeH and RvH1-a when titrating them with the complex is due to the fact that the carbohydrate content of CaeH is lower and the carbohydrate chains are buried in between the structural subunits of the native molecule, while the glycans of the functional unit RvH1-a are exposed on the surface of the molecule leading to a 4-fold fluorescence's intensity change.

Fluorescence study of lipid bilayer interactions of Eu(III) coordination complexes.

The interaction between Eu(III) tris-ß-diketonato coordination complexes (EC), displaying antitumor activity, and lipid vesicles composed of zwitterionic lipid phosphatidylcholine has been studied using fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. To characterize EC-membrane binding, several fluorescent probes, including pyrene, Prodan and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, have been employed. It has been found that EC display effective partitioning into lipid phase, giving rise to structural modifications of both polar and nonpolar lipid bilayer regions, viz. enhancement of membrane hydration and increase in tightness of lipid chain packing. The fact that EC accumulating in lipid bilayer are incapable of inducing significant disruption of membrane structural integrity creates strong prerequisites for development of liposomal nanocarriers of these potential antitumor drugs. Such a possibility is also corroborated by the observation that EC membrane incorporation does not prevent lipid bilayer partitioning of long-wavelength squaraine dyes which represent promising candidates for visualization of liposome biodistribution.

An easy and fast ultrasonic selective S-alkylation of hetaryl thiols at room temperature.

A series of 2-alkylthio derivatives of hetaryl thiols were synthesized by selective S-alkylation with alkyl halides (bromides and iodides) with ultrasonic irradiation at room temperature. The reaction was found to be generally applicable to hetaryl thiol derivatives with different substituents in the aromatic nucleus and various alkyl halides. The reaction gives high to excellent yields of products with high purity.

Application of 4,4,4-Trifluoro-1-(Biphenyl-4-yl)Butane-1,3-Dione as a Chelating Extractant in the Solvent Extraction and Separation of Light Lanthanoids in Combination with Phosphine Oxides.

The 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(biphenyl-4-yl)butane-1,3-dione(HL) has been synthesized and its complexation properties in solution was examined. Mixed ligand chelate extraction of light trivalent lanthanoids (La÷Gd) from chloride medium at constant ionic strength µ = 0.1 into C6H6 with HL in combination with one of the three phosphine oxide compounds trioctylphosphine oxide(TOPO), tributylphosphine oxide(TBPO) or triphenyphosphine oxide(TPPO) was studied. The composition of the extracted species was established as LnL3 with HL alone and as LnL3 2S in the presence of TOPO and TBPO or LnL3 S with the mixture of HL-TPPO. The 28 values of the overall equilibrium constants were calculated. A synergic effect up to 103-104 was observed for the extraction of the above-mentioned lanthanoid ions with binary mixtures of extractants. The change of the synergistic agent causes a significant increase of the KL,S values in the order TBPO < TPPO < TOPO. The parameters of the extraction process were determined and the separation factors between two adjacent Ln(III) were calculated.

A novel squarylium dye for monitoring oxidative processes in lipid membranes.

A novel squaraine probe SQ-1 has been found to be appropriate for monitoring the peroxidation processes in membrane systems. Formation of free radicals was triggered by methemoglobin (metHb) or cytochrome c (cyt c) binding to the model lipid membranes composed of zwitterionic lipid phosphatidylcholine (PC) and anionic lipid cardiolipin (CL). Protein association with the lipid vesicles was followed by drastic quenching of SQ-1 fluorescence. The observed spectral changes were suppressed in the presence of free radical scavengers, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and thiourea (TM) suggesting that SQ-1 decolorization can be attributed to its reactions with lipid radicals.

Minor structural differences of monomethine cyanine derivatives yield strong variation in their interactions with DNA, RNA as well as on their in vitro antiproliferative activity.

Comparison of binding properties of a series of monomethine cyanine derivatives to ds-DNA and ds-RNA revealed significant impact of the properties of substituent attached to the longer axis of aromatic core. Namely, it seems that only compounds 7, 8 characterised by length of longer axis not exceeding the length of longer axis of basepairs could intercalate into ds-DNA and ds-RNA, while the increased substituent length and additional possibility of hydrogen bonds formation directed binding of 1-6 into ds-DNA minor groove. Consequent ds-RNA over ds-DNA selectivity of 7 and 8 is the most appealing and rather rare property among small molecules. The interactions of 1-8 with ss-RNA were strongly dependent on both, structure of compound and base composition of RNA. The cytotoxicity screening of compounds 1-8 by MTT test revealed considerable antiproliferative activity against solid tumours and especially toward haematological malignancies (IC(50)=0.001-6.6 microM), whereby normal human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) were significantly less affected (IC(50)=1-200 microM). The cells of chronic myeloid leukaemia in blast crisis (K562) were especially sensitive to all tested compounds (IC(50)=0.001-0.6 microM), while normal lymphocytes were more resistant (IC(50)=0.01-1 microM). Results of uptake and intracellular distribution of compounds 1 and 2 in the living cells showed that they do not bind primarily to nuclear DNA but their fluorescence is scattered through the whole cells. A detailed mechanism of antitumor activity of tested molecules remains to be investigated.

Structure-fluorescence contrast relationship in cyanine DNA intercalators: toward rational dye design.

The fluorescence enhancement mechanisms of a series of DNA stains of the oxazole yellow (YO) family have been investigated in detail using steady-state and ultrafast time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The strong increase in the fluorescence quantum yield of these dyes upon DNA binding is shown to originate from the inhibition of two distinct processes: 1) isomerisation through large-amplitude motion that non-radiatively deactivates the excited state within a few picoseconds and 2) formation of weakly emitting H-dimers. As the H-dimers are not totally non-fluorescent, their formation is less efficient than isomerisation as a fluorescent contrast mechanism. The propensity of the dyes to form H-dimers and thus to reduce their fluorescence contrast upon DNA binding is shown to depend on several of their structural parameters, such as their monomeric (YO) or homodimeric (YOYO) nature, their substitution and their electric charge. Moreover, these parameters also have a substantial influence on the affinity of the dyes for DNA and on the ensuing sensitivity for DNA detection. The results give new insight into the development and optimisation of fluorescent DNA probes with the highest contrast.

Fluorescence study of protein-lipid complexes with a new symmetric squarylium probe.

The novel symmetric squarylium derivative SQ-1 has been synthesized and tested for its sensitivity to the formation of protein-lipid complexes. SQ-1 binding to the model membranes composed of zwitterionic lipid phosphatidylcholine (PC) and its mixtures with anionic lipid cardiolipin (CL) in different molar ratios was found to be controlled mainly by hydrophobic interactions. Lysozyme (Lz) and ribonuclease A (RNase) exerted an influence on the probe association with lipid vesicles resulting presumably from the competition between SQ-1 and the proteins for bilayer free volume and modification of its properties. The magnitude of this effect was much higher for lysozyme which may stem from the amphipathy of protein alpha-helix involved in the membrane binding. Varying membrane composition provides evidence for the dye sensitivity to both hydrophobic and electrostatic protein-lipid interactions. Fluorescence anisotropy studies uncovered the restriction of SQ-1 rotational mobility in lipid environment in the presence of Lz and RNase being indicative of the incorporation of the proteins into bilayer interior. The results of binding, fluorescence quenching and kinetic experiments suggested lysozyme-induced local lipid demixing upon protein association with negatively charged membranes with threshold concentration of CL for the lipid demixing being 10 mol%.