(BO 21/799) Funder: Bolyai János Kutatási Ösztöndíj
(2018-1.1.2-KFI-2018-00097)
Subjects:
Analytical chemistry
Biochemistry and molecular mechanisms of signal transduction
Photochemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic reaction mechanism
Since its development, the ionophore BAPTA (1,2?bis(2?aminophenoxy)-ethane?N,N,N?,N??tetraacetic
acid) has been used unchanged in calcium sensing applications. In this work we present
a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of novel alterations in the structure
of BAPTA, with a focus on the systematic modification of the chain connecting the
two aromatic rings of the molecule (denoted as ?linker?). A bis-(diethylamino)xantene
fluorophore was also attached to the structures in a fixed position and the structure-fluorescence
response relationship of these molecules was investigated in addition. The effect
of the length of the linker, the number of O atoms in this chain and even the removal
of one of the rings was tested; these all proved to significantly alter the characteristics
of the compounds. For example, it was found that the second aromatic ring of BAPTA
is not essential for the turn-on of the fluorescence. We also demonstrated that successful
sensing can be realized even by replacing the chain with a single oxygen atom, which
suggests the availability of a new calcium binding mode of the chelator. The reliable
turn-on characteristic, the steep Ca 2+ fluorescence titration curve and the intense
fluorescence emission combine to make this compound a prospective candidate as a calcium
sensing molecular probe in diagnostic neurobiological applications.
