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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Wavelength-selective light quenching of biochemical fluorophores

The use of light quenching to selectively eliminate the emission of biochemical fluorophores based on the emission wavelength is described. To demonstrate the possibility of wavelength-selective light quenching, a mixture of two fluorophores, 4-(dimethylamino)-4’-cyanostillene (DCS) and Prodan, emitting at different wavelengths was examined first. The emission spectrum and intensity decay were altered by the 570-nm quenching pulse due to selective quenching of the longer wavelength emission of DCS. Quenching of the solvent-sensitive fluorophore partially bound to human serum albumin and partially in the aqueous phase was then examined. Light quenching with a long wavelength (570 nm) time-delayed pulse selectively quenched the Prodan fluorophore in the aqueous phase while in the presence of the Prodan bound to human serum albumin, which emitted at shorter wavelengths, was not quenched. Using one-beam short wavelength excitation and quenching, a selective quenching of the blue-shifted emission of ribonuclease T1 in the presence of the red-shifted emission of the tryptophan residue in adrenocorticotropic hormone was observed. In both systems wavelength-selective light quenching was demonstrated by a shift in the emission spectra, and by changes in the intensity decay consistent with preferential quenching of one species. Light quenching is instantly reversible by blocking or defocusing of the quenching beam. It can occur for inaccessible residues or in viscous solvents, and thus can be of wide applicability for resolving the complex emission of biological macromolecules.

Fluorescence spectral properties of troponin C mutant F22W with one-, two-, and three-photon excitation

We report the first measurements of protein fluorescence with three-photon excitation, using a mutant of troponin C (TnC) that contains a single tryptophan residue F22W. From the emission intensity dependence on laser power we determine that TnC F22W displays one-, two-, and three-photon excitation at 285, 570, and 855 nm, respectively. The emission spectra and intensity decays are identical for one-, two-, or three-photon excitation. The steady-state and time 0 anisotropies are distinct for each mode of excitation, but the correlation times were the same, suggesting that three-photon excitation of proteins can be accomplished without significant effects of the locally intense illumination. The excitation anisotropy spectrum from 830 to 900 nm displays only negative values, suggesting dominant excitation via the 1Lb state of tryptophan from 830 to 900 nm.

Fluorescence of reduced nicotinamides using one- and two-photon excitation

We examined the steady-state and time-resolved emission of NADH and NAMH resulting from one-photon and two-photon excitation. Similar emission spectra were observed for both modes of excitation. The fundamental anisotropy of NADH is near 0.54 for two-photon excitation from 690 to 740 nm, which is 46% higher than the value of 0.37 observed for one-photon excitation. This observation of a higher anisotropy with two-photon excitation was consistent with INDO/SDCI calculations of the one- and two-photon transitions. Minor differences in the multi-exponential decays of NADH were observed for one- and two-photon excitation, but presently available resolution does not allow us to conclude the decays are distinct. NADH-LADH-IBA complex formation led to an order of magnitude larger of the average lifetimes of NADH fluorescence resulting from one- and two-photon excitation. Fluorescence intensity and fluorescence anisotropy decays of NADH was double-exponential for both modes of excitation and show that the observed heterogeneity of the fluorescence decay kinetics of reduced nicotinamides arises from the inherent photoprocess of the dihydronicotinamide chromophore and not due to any intramolecular interactions with adenine part of NADH. Such interactions are responsible for the depolarization of NADH fluorescence observed for excitation wavelength below 300 nm for OPE and 600 nm for TPE, respectively. NADH displays a low cross-section for two-photon excitation which suggests that fluorescence from NADH will be moderately difficult to observe with two-photon fluorescence microscopy, and may not interfere with observations of TPIF of other extrinsic probes used to label cells.

Synthesis and evaluation of Ru-complexes as anisotropy probes for protein hydrodynamics and immunoassays of high-molecular-weight antigens

We investigated three unsymmetrical Ru-complexes, namely [Ru(bpy)2 (phen-ITC)]2+, [Ru(bpy)2(dcbpy)] and [Ru(bpy)2(mcbpy)]+ for use as probes for rotational diffusion and in immunoassays of high-molecular-weight antigens. For this purpose we synthesized reactive forms of these metal-ligand complexes and conjugated them to human serum albumin (HSA). The maximal anisotropies (r0) for the HSA-bound forms in frozen solution are 0.23, 0.17 and 0.14 for the (dcbpy), (mcbpy) and (phen-ITC) derivatives, respectively. The activated Ru metal-ligand complexes have either one or two NHS-esters or an isothiocyanate group as the reactive moiety. The usefulness of these complexes in immunoassays was determined by titration of the labeled HSA with polyclonal anti-HSA. The highest steady state anisotropy (r) values (0.190) were observed for the [Ru(bpy)2(dcbpy)]-labeled HSA on titration with polyclonal antibody. However, a relative increase in the steady state anisotropy (r/r0) on titration with polyclonal antibody was found for the phen-ITC probe (96%), as compared to the dcbpy (83%) or mcbpy (79%) derivatives. These findings were confirmed by time-resolved frequency-domain measurements. In particular the higher mean correlation times calculated for the phen-ITC derivative suggests reduced local probe motion for this probe when bound to HSA as compared to the (mcbpy) and (dcbpy) conjugates.

Fluorescence detection of the anticancer drug topotecan in plasma and whole blood by two-photon excitation

The anticancer drug topotecan was detected in human plasma and whole blood using two-photon excitation at 730 or 820 nm. These wavelengths are longer than the main absorption bands of hemoglobin. Two-photon excitation of topotecan was demonstrated by a quadratic dependence of the emission intensity on the incident power, compared to a linear dependence for one-photon excitation at 410 nm. The observed emission centered at 525 nm was shown to be topotecan from the similarity of the emission spectrum and decay times observed for one-photon and two-photon excitation. Topotecan was detected at concentrations as low as 0.05 and 1 microM in plasma and whole blood, respectively. Since skin blood and tissues are translucent at long wavelengths, these results suggest the possibility of homogeneous or noninvasive clinical sensing with two-photon excitation.

Two-color two-photon excitation of fluorescence

We report the observation of two-photon excitation of an organic fluorophore with two different wavelengths, a phenomenon we refer to as two-color two-photon (2C2P) excitation. Ultraviolet emission of p-terphenyl at 340 nm was observed when the sample was illuminated with both 375 and 750 nm pulses from a picosecond dye laser. The emission of p-terphenyl was about 100-fold and more than 1000-fold less for illumination at only 375 or 750 nm, respectively. Observation of the 2C2P signal required temporal and spatial overlap of the 375 and 750 nm pulses. The amplitude of the signal depended on the polarization of each beam. 2C2P excitation can have applications in fluorescence microscopy and elsewhere when spatially localized excitation is desirable.

On the possibility of evanescent wave excitation distal from a solid-liquid interface using light quenching

Evanescent wave illumination with total internal reflection is often used to provide excitation near a quartz-water interface. We now show that evanescent illumination at one wavelength and incident angle, coupled with light quenching at a second wavelength and incident angle, can be used for selective excitation of fluorophores located up to 5000 A into the aqueous phase. The displacement of the fluorophore population from the solid-liquid interface depends on the angles of incidence of the excitation and quenching beams and the optical power of the quenching beam. Light quenching with an evanescent wave was demonstrated to be experimentally possible using Pyridine2 and a light-quenching wavelength of 736 nm. The use of combined evanescent wave excitation and evanescent wave quenching could provide selective excitation of fluorophores in the cytoplasmic region of cells and may provide improved response times for optical sensors based on evanescent excitation.

Fluorescence polarization immunoassay of a high-molecular-weight antigen using a long wavelength-absorbing and laser diode-excitable metal-ligand complex

We describe a fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPI) based on an osmium metal-ligand complex, Os(bpy)2(dcbpy). The Os complex was selected for its long wavelength absorption, which allows excitation with wavelengths up to 720 nm. At these wavelengths tissue absorbance and autofluorescence are minimal, and excitation can be accomplished with LEDs or laser diodes. The Os complex displays a lifetime of 19 ns and a high initial anisotropy at two excitation wavelengths, 505 and 690 nm. A reactive NHS-ester of Os- (bpy)2(dcbpy) was synthesized containing a NHS ester, and used to label the human serum albumin (HSA) or anti-HSA. The FPIs of HSA were performed with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies using excitation at 505 or 685 nm. The results showed the potential of the Os-ligand complex to be used as a long excitation wavelength FPI probe for potential use in homogeneous immunoassays with simple excitation sources.

Two-photon induced fluorescence of linear alkanes; a possible intrinsic lipid probe

We measured the fluorescence emission spectra and intensity decays of the linear alkane tetradecane when excited at 300 nm by two-photon excitation. The unquenched lifetime of tetradecane in neat solution is near 4.4 ns. The emission of tetradecane centered at 210 nm is collisionally quenched by oxygen, n-propanol and water. These results suggest that aliphatic groups in non-polar environments can display good fluorescence, and that the aliphatic side chains of detergents and lipids may serve as an intrinsic fluorescent probe of micelles and bilayers.

Three-photon induced fluorescence of the calcium probe Indo-1

We report the calcium-dependent emission spectral properties of the calcium probe Indo-1 for three-photon excitation. We found that Indo-1 could be readily excited with the femtosecond pulses from a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser at 885 nm. This wavelength is too long for two-photon excitation, which is expected to occur for wavelengths no longer than twice the longest single-photon absorption wavelength of 400 nm. For excitation at 885 nm the emission intensity was found to depend on the cube of the laser power, as expected for simultaneous interaction with three photons. At wavelengths below 840 nm the emission intensity depends on the square of the laser power, indicating two-photon excitation at shorter wavelengths. The intensity decays of Indo-1 were found to be dependent on Ca2+ and essentially identical for one- and three-photon excitation. The emission anisotropy of Indo-1 was found to be considerably higher for three-photon excitation than for one-photon excitation, consistent with cos6 theta photoselection, as compared with cos2 theta photoselection for one-photon excitation. The high values of the anisotropy are in agreement with those expected for a three-photon process. Calcium-dependent emission spectra were observed for Indo-1 with three-photon excitation, demonstrating that three-photon excitation of Indo-1 can be used for calcium imaging by emission intensity ratio measurements. The calcium-dependent emission spectra indicate a higher three-photon cross-section for the calcium-free form of Indo-1 than for the calcium-bound form. The possible advantages of three-photon excitation include the availability of the appropriate wavelengths with solid-state lasers, enhanced spatial resolution due to a reduced size of the excited volume, absence of light quenching, and possibly high selectivity of the three-photon excitation process.

Distance distributions from the tyrosyl to disulfide residues in the oxytocin and [Arg8]-vasopressin measured using frequency-domain fluorescence resonance energy transfer

We have examined the fluorescence intensity decays of oxytocin and [Arg8]-vasopressin resulting from the single tyrosyl residue in each peptide, and the intensity decay of the Asu1,6-analogues in which the disulfide bridge is substituted by a CH2-CH2 bridge. Viscosity-dependent steady state and intensity decay measurements indicated that fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from tyrosyl phenol to the disulfide bridge is responsible for the decrease in fluorescence relative to the Asu-analogues. The frequency-domain phase and modulation data for the tyrosyl donor were interpreted in terms of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to the weakly absorbing disulfide bridge and a distribution of donor-to-acceptor distances. Energy transfer efficiencies were determined from both time-resolved and steady-state measurements. Fitting the frequency-domain phase and modulation data to a Gaussian distance distribution indicated that the average inter-chromophoric distance (Rav) is similar in both compounds, Rav = 7.94 A for oxytocin and Rav = 8.00 A for vasopressin. However, the width of the distance distribution is narrower for vasopression (hw = 2.80 A) than for oxytocin (hw = 3.58 A), which is consistent with restriction of the tyrosine phenol motion due to its stacking wih the Phe3 side chain of vasopressin. Finally, the recovered distance distribution functions are compared with histograms describing the distance between the chromophores during the course of long, in vacuo, molecular dynamics runs using the computer program CHARMm and the QUANTA 3.0 parameters.

Fluorescence energy transfer immunoassay based on a long-lifetime luminescent metal-ligand complex

We describe an immunoassay based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The antigen was human serum albumin (HSA), which was labeled with a ruthenium-ligand complex, [Ru(bpy)2(phen-ITC)]2+. The antibody (IgG) to HSA was labeled with a nonfluorescent absorber, Reactive Blue 4. Association of the Ru-labeled HSA with the antibody was detected by three spectral parameters, a decreased quantum yield of Ru-HSA, a decrease in its fluorescence lifetime, and an increase in its fluorescence anisotropy. The steady-state anisotropy of Ru-HSA increased approximately eightfold upon binding to the antibody. These spectral effects were observed both in the direct association of the Ru-HSA with Reactive Blue 4-labeled antibody, and in a competitive assay format wherein unlabeled HSA competed with Ru-HSA for the binding sites on the antibody. Some nonspecific interactions of HSA may have occurred with Reactive Blue 4-labeled AHA, a difficulty which can be avoided with a different acceptor. The use of FRET provides a reliable means to alter the spectral properties upon antigen-antibody binding. The advantages of a ruthenium-ligand fluorophore include its long-wavelength absorption and emission, long fluorescence lifetime, and high photo-stability. Long wavelengths minimize problems of autofluorescence from biological samples, and long life-times allow off-gating of the prompt autofluorescence.

Fluorescence anisotropy of tyrosine using one-and two-photon excitation

We examined the emission spectra and steady-state anisotropy of tyrosyl fluorescence with two-photon excitation from 565 to 578 nm. The emission spectra of phenol and N-acetyl-L-tyrosinamide (NATyrA) were all the same for one-photon excitation (OPE) and two-photon excitation (TPE), and the tyrosine emission from ribonuclease A showed 10-nm shift to longer wavelengths with TPE. Surprisingly, the anisotropy of tyrosine, NATyrA and Leu5-enkephalin in frozen solution were near zero for TPE as compared to near 0.3 for OPE. Low values of the anisotropy near 0.05 were also found for phenol and ribonuclease A. A low anisotropy appears to be a basic characteristic of tyrosine or tyrosyl residues with two-photon excitation.

On the possibility of calcium imaging using Indo-1 with three-photon excitation

We show that the calcium fluorophore Indo-1 can be excited by simultaneous absorption of three-photons at 885 nm, a wavelength readily available from Ti:sapphire lasers. Three-photon excitation was demonstrated by the emission intensity of Indo-1 which depended on the cube of the laser power, and by a higher anisotropy than was observed for two-photon excitation. Excitation of Indo-1 becomes a two-photon process when the wavelength is decreased to 820 nm. Three-photon excitation was accomplished at a low 17 microM concentration of Indo-1. Examination of the spatial profile of the excited Indo-1 showed a smaller volume for three- versus two-photon excitation. These results suggest that three-photon excitation may be useful in fluorescence microscopy using the long wavelength output of Ti:sapphire lasers, and may provide higher spatial resolution than available using two-photon excitation.

Possibility of simultaneously measuring low and high calcium concentrations using Fura-2 and lifetime-based sensing

We characterized the fluorescence probe Fura-2 for calcium measurements using frequency-domain phase-modulation fluorometry. By the use of different excitation wavelengths from 345 to 380 nm, the apparent calcium dissociation constants can be altered from 41 nM to 1.92 microM Ca2+. This change in apparent Kd results from changes in the relative extent of excitation of the calcium-bound and calcium-free forms, and the excitation wavelength-dependent contribution of each form to the intensity decay. These results indicate that lifetime-based measurements with Fura-2 can be used for imaging of calcium over a wide range of concentrations. An additional favorable feature of Fura-2 is that the calcium-free form can be almost exclusively excited at wavelength of 390 nm or longer, and can thus be used as a reference providing the lifetime in the absence of calcium, without removing the calcium. Additionally, exposure of Fura-2 to intense illumination shifts but does not distort the frequency response. For cellular imaging, these favorable properties of Fura-2 may allow calibration of the calcium concentrations without the use of ionophores.