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J R Lakowicz

Publications and source records attributed to J R Lakowicz.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Long-lifetime Ru(II) complexes as labeling reagents for sulfhydryl groups.

We report the synthesis and spectral properties of two long-lifetime highly luminescent Ru(II) complexes containing either a sulfhydryl reactive iodoacetamido group or a less reactive choloroacetamido group, [Ru(bpy)2(5-iodoacetamido-1,10-phenanthroline)] (PF6)2 and [Ru(bpy)2(5-chloroacetamido-1,10-phenanthroline)](PF6) 2, respectively, where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine. Ru(bpy)2(phen-IA)](PF6)2 was covalently linked to human serum albumin (HSA) and human immunoglobulin G (IgG). The photoluminescence lifetime of protein-bound probes approaches 1 microsecond under ambient conditions. In the absence of rotational motions, this probe displayed an anisotropy of 0.18 for excitation at 472 nm. Anisotropy decay data were used to determine the overall rotational correlation times of HSA and IgG. These long-lifetime sulfhydryl-reactive probes can be used to recover microsecond rotational motions and/or domain motions of proteins and/or macromolecular complexes.

Cysteine↗

Spatially localized ballistic two-photon excitation in scattering media.

We describe spatially localized two-photon excitation in scattering media. Using femtosecond pulses at 770 nm from a Ti: Sapphire laser, we were able to excite fluorophores in capillary tubes under up to 1.5 mm of 0.5% intralipid. Displacement of the laser beam relative to the embedded samples indicates that highly localized excitation was possible with two-photon excitation, whereas one-photon excitation resulted in loss of spatial resolution due to excitation by the diffusely scattered photons. These results indicate that two-photon excitation in the scattering solution is due only to the ballistic photons, a result confirmed by frequency-domain time-resolved measurements. Selective excitation of adjacent embedded samples was found possible for two but not one-photon excitation.

Fat Emulsions, Intravenous↗

A water-soluble luminescence oxygen sensor.

We developed a water-soluble luminescent probe for dissolved oxygen. This probe is based on (Ru[dpp(SO3Na)2]3) cl2, which is a sulfonated analogue of the well-known oxygen probe (Ru[dpp]3)cl2. The compound dpp is 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline and dpp(SO3Na)2 is a disulfonated derivative of the same ligand. In aqueous solution in the absence of oxygen (Ru[dpp(SO3Na)2]3)cl2 displays a lifetime of 3.7 microseconds that decreases to 930 ns on equilibrium with air and 227 ns on equilibrium with 100% oxygen. The Stern-Volmer quenching constant is 11,330 M-1. This high oxygen-quenching constant means that the photoluminescence of Ru(dpp[SO3Na]2)3cl2 is 10% quenched at an oxygen concentration of 8.8 x 10(-6) M, or equilibration with 5.4 torr of oxygen. The oxygen probe dissolved in water displays minimal interactions with lipid vesicles composed of dipalmityl-L-alpha-phosphatidyl glycerol but does appear to interact with human serum albumin. The absorption maximum near 480 nm, long lifetime and large Stokes' shift allow this probe to be used with simple instrumentation based on a light-emitting diode light source, allowing low-cost oxygen sensing in aqueous solutions. To the best of our knowledge this is the first practical water-soluble oxygen sensor.

Luminescence↗

Fluorescence anisotropy controlled by light quenching.

We demonstrated that fluorescence anisotropy can be effectively decreased or increased in the presence of light quenching, depending on relative polarizations of excitation and quenching pulses. For parallel light quenching, anisotropy decreases to 0.103 and z-axis symmetry is preserved. In the presence of perpendicular light quenching, the steady-state anisotropy of a pyridine-2-glycerol solution increases from 0.368 for an unquenched sample to 0.484 for a quenched one. We show that the angular distribution of transition moments loses z-axis symmetry in the presence of perpendicular light quenching. In these cases we used more general definitions of anisotropy. Induced by light quenching, anisotropy can be applied in both steady-state and time-resolved measurements. In particular, the systems with low or no anisotropy can be investigated with the proposed technique.

Fluorescence Polarization↗

A long-lived, highly luminescent Re(I) metal-ligand complex as a biomolecular probe.

A highly luminescent rhenium (I) metal-ligand complex [Re(bcp)(CO)3(4-COOHPy)](ClO4), where bcp is 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline and 4-COOHPy is isonicotinic acid, has been synthesized and characterized. High quantum yields (> 0.5) and long excited-state lifetimes (0.3-10 micronseconds) in fluid solutions at room temperature were found for this complex, with remarkable emission sensitivity to microenvironment. This compound also displays highly polarized emission with a maximum anisotropy near 0.3 in the absence of rotational diffusion. This Re complex was conjugated to several biomolecules, including the proteins human serum albumin and bovine immunoglobulin G, as well as an amine-containing lipid. When bound to a protein or lipid, the decay time is near 3 microseconds and the quantum yield is approximately 0.12 in aqueous oxygenated solution at room temperature. This compound's unique spectral properties along with its conjugatability allowed us to utilize it as biomolecular probe in a variety of environments.

Anisotropy↗

Interaction of SecB with soluble SecA.

The preprotein binding molecular chaperone SecB functions by preventing the premature folding of the preprotein in the cytosol, and targeting it to the peripheral subunit SecA of the translocase at the cytoplasmic membrane. The nature of the interaction of SecB with soluble SecA was studied by fluorescence anisotropy spectroscopy of Ru(bpy)2(dcbpy)-labeled SecA in the presence of increasing concentrations of SecB. A more than 50-fold difference in affinity for the cytosolic SecA compared to translocase associated SecA seems to prevent unproductive binding of SecB to the cytosolic SecA and stresses its targeting function.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Synthesis and spectral characterization of a thiol-reactive long-lifetime Ru(II) complex.

We report the synthesis and spectral properties of a long-lifetime luminescent Ru complex containing a sulfhydryl-reactive maleimide group, [Ru (2,2'-bipyridine)2(1, 10-phenanthroline-5-maleimide)](PF6)2. [Ru(bpy)2(phen-mi)]2+ was covalently linked to human serum albumin, immunoglobulin G, and beta-galactosidase. The lifetimes for probe bound to proteins were near 1.1 micros. In the absence of rotational motions, the probe displayed an anisotropy near 0.17 for excitation near 475 nm. Anisotropy decay data were used to determine rotational correlation times of the proteins, which showed local probe motions in addition to overall rotational diffusion. This long-lifetime sulfhydryl-reactive probe can be used to recover microsecond rotational motions and/or domain motions of proteins and/or macromolecular complexes.

Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay↗

Two-photon excitation of ethidium bromide labeled DNA.

We examined the steady state and time-resolved emission of DNA stained with ethidium bromide (EB) when excited with 90 fs pulses from a mode-locked titanium sapphire laser. Over the wavelength range from 840 to 880 nm EB-DNA was found to display two-photon excitation, with a cross-section near 7 x 10(-50) cm4s/photon. Frequency-domain intensity decay measurements revealed similar multi-exponential intensity decays for one- and two-photon excitation. Time-resolved anisotropy decay measurements revealed similar correlation times, but different amplitudes as has been observed previously for two- versus one-photon excitation. These results indicate that two-photon excitation of EB-DNA can be accomplished with the fundamental output of a Ti:sapphire laser without obvious heating or perturbation of the DNA.

Animals↗

Sodium Green as a potential probe for intracellular sodium imaging based on fluorescence lifetime.

We characterized the use of the fluorescent probe Sodium Green for measurements of intracellular free sodium using frequency-domain, phase-modulation fluorometry. The intensity decays were found to be strongly Na+ dependent, with mean lifetime increasing from 1.13 ns in the absence of Na+ to 2.39 ns in the presence of 140 mM Na+. Detailed analysis of the intensity decays in the presence of Na+ and K+ in the concentration range from 0 to 500 mM is provided. Sodium sensing using data measured at a single modulation frequency is described. Phase and modulation data showed high sensitivity to Na+ and substantially lower sensitivity to K+. Additionally, exposure of Sodium Green to intense illumination indicated that Sodium Green is much more photostable than its precursor, fluorescein. These results indicate that lifetime-based measurements with Sodium Green can be used for imaging of intracellular free [Na+] in the range from about 0.5 to 50 mM with high accuracy.

Flow Cytometry↗

Lifetime-based sensing of glucose using energy transfer with a long lifetime donor.

We describe an optical assay for glucose based on the luminescence decay time of a long lifetime metal-ligand complex. Concanavalin A was covalently labeled with Ruthenium metal-ligand complex (RuCon A) which served as the donor. The acceptor was malachite green which was covalently linked to insulin. The malachite green insulin was also covalently labeled with maltose (MIMG) to provide binding affinity to RuCon A. Binding of RuCon A to MIMG resulted in a decreased intensity and decay time of RuCon A. Glucose was detected by competitive displacement of MIMG from RuCon A, resulting in increased intensity and decay time. This glucose assay has several favorable features. The long lifetime of RuCon A allows phase-modulation decay time measurements using an amplitude-modulated bluelight-emitting diode as the light source. Reversibility of the assay can be controlled by the extent of sugar labeling of the insulin. Finally, the glucose-sensitive range can be adjusted by selection of the sugar structure and extent of labeling of the insulin.

Blood Glucose↗

Light quenching of pyridine2 fluorescence with time-delayed pulses.

We describe the effects of time-delayed long-wavelength pulses on the intensity and anisotropy decays of pyridine2. The sample was exposed to a continuous train of 360 nm excitation pulses and time-delayed 720 nm pulses. The long-wavelength pulses, which overlapped the emission spectrum of pyridine2, resulted in a spatially localized decrease in intensity at the point of beam overlap. The time-delayed quenching pulses caused a stepwise decrease in the intensity and anisotropy decays, as seen by oscillations in the frequency-domain data. The time-resolved anisotropy was shown to decrease below zero (-0.2) following the vertically polarized quenching pulse. The extent of light quenching depended on the time delay between the excitation and quenching pulses, and can be used to measure the decay time. Light quenching and/or multipulse methods may provide a new class of experiments for fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging.

Fluorescence Polarization↗

Long-lifetime metal-ligand pH probe.

We describe the synthesis and fluorescence spectral characterization of a pH-sensitive metal-ligand complex, [Ru(deabpy)(bpy)2]2., where deabpy is 4,4'-diethylaminomethyl-2,2'-bipyridine. This metal-ligand complex (MLC) was found to display pH-dependent intensities, emission spectra, and decay times, with the changes centered near the physiological useful pH value of 7.5. The apparent pKa values were not found to be dependent on ionic strength. The compound was found to be useful for lifetime-based sensing by phase-modulation fluorometry. Global analysis of the intensity decays over a range of pH values revealed two decay times of 235 and 380 ns, associated with the protonated and unprotonated forms, respectively. Because of its long decay time, optical pH measurements could be accomplished by phase-modulation fluorometry with a conveniently low modulation frequency of 700 kHz. The lifetime data were obtained with either a amplitude-modulated laser or with an amplitude-modulated blue-light-emitting diode. This pH-sensitive complex also displays a modest spectral shift with change in pH, allowing its use as a wavelength-ratiometric MLC probe. One can imagine lifetime sensors for a variety of blood cations and point-of-care assays based on long-lifetime metal-ligand complexes and simple solid-state light sources and detectors.

2,2'-Dipyridyl↗

Two-photon excitation by the evanescent wave from total internal reflection.

We report the first observation of two-photon excitation of fluorescence using the evanescent wave from total internal reflectance (TIR). The evanescent wave at 770 nm from a fs Ti:Sapphire laser was used to excite the calcium probe Indo-1 at a quartz-water interface. The emission intensity of Indo-1 depended quadratically on the incident power at 770 nm, when incidence angles were above and below the critical angle (theta c) for TIR. The time-resolved intensity and anisotropy decays with TIR at 770 nm demonstrated the origin of the signals as Indo-1 and eliminated the possibility of scattered light contributing to the signal. The emission from Indo-1 was further demonstrated to be due to two-photon excitation by the increased anisotropy observed both from the steady-state and time-resolved data. Comparison of the intensities for one-photon and two-photon evanescent wave excitation revealed a smaller effective excited volume for two-photon excitation, indicating that the excited fluorophores are located closer to the interface with two-photon excitation. These results suggest that total internal reflectance can be combined with two- or multiphoton excitation for studies of surface absorption, immunoassays, or pattern photobleaching.

Fluorescence↗

Synthesis and luminescence spectral characterization of long-lifetime lipid metal-ligand probes.

We synthesized phospholipid analogues of phosphatidyl ethanolamine which contains a ruthenium metal-ligand complex (MLC) covalently bound to the amino group. Two analogues were synthesized, containing either one (Ru-PE) or two (Ru-PE2) lipid molecules covalently linked to the MLC by the amino group of the lipid. These MLC-lipid probes display intensity decay times from 682 to 357 ns, depending on temperature. Importantly, the luminescence MLC groups display polarized emission, enabling their use for studies of membrane dynamics. The long intensity decay times allowed measurement of the overall rotation correlation time of lipid vesicles to several microseconds. The spectral properties of the model membranes containing Ru-PE or Ru-PE2 were independent of the probe-to-lipid molar ratio from 1:20 to 1:100, suggesting minimal tendency for probe-probe interactions. These MLC-lipid probes can be expected to have numerous applications in studies of membrane dynamics on the microsecond timescale.

2,2'-Dipyridyl↗

Fluorescence study of neurohypophyseal hormones and their analogues. Distance distributions in a series of arginine-vasopressin analogues.

Analogues of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) in which substitution of the proline residue in position 7 (by either sarcosine or N-methylalanine) combined with replacement of the cysteine residue in position 1 were the subject of a fluorescence and molecular mechanics study. We obtained two groups of analogues: selective antidiuretic agonists (cysteine or beta-mercaptopropionic acid in position 1) and pressor and uterotonic antagonists (deaminopenicillamine or beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid in position 1). Using frequency-domain measurements of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) we estimated the distance distribution between the phenolic ring of Tyr2 and the disulphide bridge Cys1-Cys6. We also analyzed acrylamide quenching of tyrosyl fluorescence to determine the exposure of the tyrosyl ring to the solvent. Results from fluorescence experiments were compared with those from Monte Carlo simulation (ECEPP/3 force-field).

Arginine Vasopressin↗

Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging of DNA labeled with DAPI and Hoechst 33342 using three-photon excitation.

We examined the fluorescence spectral properties of the DNA stains DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, hydrochloride) and Hoechst 33342 (bis-benzimide, or 2,5'-bi'1H-benzimidazole2'-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-5-(4-methyl-1-piperazi nyl)) with two-photon (2h nu) and three-photon (3h nu) excitation using femtosecond pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser from 830 to 885 nm. The mode of excitation of DAPI bound to DNA changed from two-photon at 830 nm to three-photon at 885 nm. In contrast, Hoechst 33342 displayed only two-photon excitation from 830 to 885 nm. DAPI-DNA displayed the same emission spectra and decay times for 2h nu and 3h nu excitation. Hoechst 33342-DNA displayed the same intensity decay for excitation at 830 and 885 nm. Both probes displayed higher anisotropies for multiphoton excitation as compared to one-photon excitation with ultraviolet wavelengths, and DAPI-DNA displays a higher anisotropy for 3h nu at 885 nm than for 2h nu at 830 nm. We used 970-nm excitation of DAPI-stained chromosomes to obtain the first three-dimensional images with three-photon excitation. Three-photon excitation of DAPI-stained chromosomes at 970 nm was demonstrated by the power dependence in the fluorescence microscope.

Benzimidazoles↗

Two-photon excitation of dioxane: time-resolved measurements of excited state complex formation with water.

We observed emission from the non-aromatic hydrocarbon 1,4-dioxane upon illumination with ps pulses at 380 nm. The emission intensity depended quadratically on incident power at 380 nm, indicating a two-photon process. In the absence of water the intensity decay was close to a single exponential, but displayed some evidence of an excited state process. In the presence of 1% water the emission spectra shifted dramatically to long wavelength. Water also resulted in wavelength-dependent intensity decays with negative pre-exponential factors on the long wavelength side of the emission, demonstrating the presence of an excited state reaction. At this water concentration the results are consistent with a two-state model due to emission from dioxane and a dioxane and a dioxane-water complex.

Dioxanes↗