Issue 8, 2016

Fluorescent transmembrane anion transporters: shedding light on anionophoric activity in cells

Abstract

A series of fluorescent anion transporters consisting of a urea or thiourea group linked to a naphthalimide fluorophore have been synthesised and their anion transport properties studied. The compounds possess similar anion transport properties to (thio)urea-based anionophores that have previously been reported. Fluorescence studies in cells show all anionophores cross the plasma membrane and localise within the interior of cells. The most lipophilic, aromatic substituted transporters localise homogeneously throughout the cell and are toxic towards cancer cells with the highly fluorinated compound 6 being the most effective. The least lipophilic, alkyl substituted transporters localise in specific vesicles and are non-toxic to cells. This work provides new insight to the actions of anionophores in cells and may be useful in the design of novel antineoplastic agents.

Graphical abstract: Fluorescent transmembrane anion transporters: shedding light on anionophoric activity in cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
17 9 2015
Accepted
15 4 2016
First published
26 4 2016
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2016,7, 5069-5077

Fluorescent transmembrane anion transporters: shedding light on anionophoric activity in cells

S. N. Berry, V. Soto-Cerrato, E. N. W. Howe, H. J. Clarke, I. Mistry, A. Tavassoli, Y. Chang, R. Pérez-Tomás and P. A. Gale, Chem. Sci., 2016, 7, 5069 DOI: 10.1039/C6SC01643J

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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