Subcellular localised small molecule fluorescent probes to image mobile Zn2+

Fang, Le; Watkinson, Michael

doi:10.1039/D0SC04568C

Subcellular localised small molecule fluorescent probes to image mobile Zn2+

Fang, Le; Watkinson, Michael

Authors

Le Fang

Michael Watkinson

Abstract

Zn2+, as the second most abundant d-block metal in the human body, plays an important role in a wide range of biological processes, and the dysfunction of its homeostasis is related to many diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and prostate and breast cancers. Small molecule fluorescent probes, as effective tools for real-time imaging, have been widely used to study Zn2+ related processes. However, the failure to control their localisation in cells has limited their utility somewhat, as they are generally incapable of studying individual processes in a specific cellular location. This perspective presents an overview of the recent developments in specific organelle localised small molecule fluorescent Zn2+ probes and their application in biological milieu, which could help to extend our understanding of the mechanisms that cells use to respond to dysfunction of zinc homeostasis and its roles in disease initiation and development.

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Oct 7, 2020
Publication Date	Oct 9, 2020
Journal	Chemical Science
Print ISSN	2041-6520
Publisher	Royal Society of Chemistry
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	11
Issue	42
Pages	11366 - 11379
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC04568C
Publisher URL	https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC04568C