A mitochondria-targeted red-emitting probe for imaging hydrogen sulfide in living cells and zebrafish

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an important endogenous signaling molecule with multiple biological functions. Based on the thiolysis of NBD (7-nitro-1,2,3-benzoxadiazole) amine, herein we rationally design and synthesize a new fluorescent probe 1 for the detection of mitochondrial H₂S in living cells. Probe 1 displays bright red-emitting fluorescence after H₂S activation (ϕ, 0.77). 1 shows higher selectivity and sensitivity for H₂S than the red-emitting probe Rho-NBD (ChemBioChem, 2016, 17, 962). Moreover, 1 is water-soluble, cell-membrane-permeable, of low cytotoxicity and mitochondria-targeting, and can be employed for monitoring mitochondrial H₂S in living cells.