Technologies

Abstract

Northwestern scientists have synthesized a new class of zinc-chelating probes that are useful as ratiometric probes for zinc (Zn(II)). These reagents incorporate 2-(2'-hydroxypheny) benzooxazole (HBO) as a fluorophore with an aminomethyl pyridine moiety, to bind heavy metal ions selectively. Probes of this family are effective for measuring zinc concentration in physiological solutions, as the absorption spectra of these indicators shift upon zinc binding. These probes may be utilized in investigating zinc functions in a variety of biological processes, like gene transcription and translation that depend heavily on zinc-binding proteins. Such tools will help reveal the catalytic, structural, and regulatory functions of zinc in these proteins and in turn elucidate zinc's impact on metabolism, gene expression, and signal transduction. Histochemical studies of mammalian tissues including the prostate, pancreas and brain have revealed patterns of zinc accumulation that are disrupted in some types of prostatic cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, this novel reagent has the potential to increase understanding of the role of zinc in normal and disease-associated cellular processes.