A New Highly Selective Fluorescent K+ Sensor

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 133; no. 46; pp. 18530 - 18533
• Main Authors: Zhou, Xianfeng, Su, Fengyu, Tian, Yanqing, Youngbull, Cody, Johnson, Roger H, Meldrum, Deirdre R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 23-11-2011
• Subjects: Cell Line, Tumor; Cells, Cultured; Fluorescent Dyes - chemical synthesis; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; Humans; Microscopy, Confocal; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; Potassium - analysis; Potassium - chemistry
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja207345s

We describe the synthesis, properties, and application of a new fluorescent potassium chemosensor, KS2, for K+ sensing and imaging in live cells. By virtue of a strong electron-withdrawing group, 2-dicyanomethylene-3-cyano-4,5,5-trimethyl-2,5-dihydrofuran (TCF), with a triazacryptand ligand, the new sensor can respond to K+ up to 1.6 M. This is the first highly selective intracellular sensor suitable for sensing K+ over a broad and high concentration range. Confocal fluorescence microscopy has established the utility of KS2 for live-cell K+ detection. The application of KS2 combined with other sensors will be of great benefit for investigating cellular metabolism, detecting and diagnosing diseases including cancer, and monitoring responses to therapy.