Enzyme-Activated Fluorogenic Probes for Live-Cell and in Vivo Imaging

Fluorogenic probes, small-molecule sensors that unmask brilliant fluorescence upon exposure to specific stimuli, are powerful tools for chemical biology. Those probes that respond to enzymatic catalysis illuminate the complex dynamics of biological processes at a level of spatiotemporal detail and s...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chyan, Wen, Raines, Ronald T
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemistry
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Chemical Society (ACS) 2020
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/123655
Description
Summary:Fluorogenic probes, small-molecule sensors that unmask brilliant fluorescence upon exposure to specific stimuli, are powerful tools for chemical biology. Those probes that respond to enzymatic catalysis illuminate the complex dynamics of biological processes at a level of spatiotemporal detail and sensitivity unmatched by other techniques. Here, we review recent advances in enzyme-activated fluorogenic probes for biological imaging. We organize our survey by enzyme classification, with emphasis on fluorophore masking strategies, modes of enzymatic activation, and the breadth of current and future applications. Key challenges such as probe selectivity and spectroscopic requirements are described alongside therapeutic, diagnostic, and theranostic opportunities. Keywords: cells; peptides and proteins; imaging probes; fluorescence; probes