Published papers

Dietary phosphate overload induces chronic kidney disease (CKD), and calciprotein particles (CPPs), a form of nanoparticle comprising calcium phosphate and serum proteins, has been proposed to cause renal toxicity. However, the mechanism of CPP cytotoxicity in renal tubular cells is unknown. Here we show that in renal proximal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells, endocytosed CPPs accumulate in late endosomes/lysosomes (LELs) and increase their luminal pH by ~ 1.0 unit. This results in a decrease in lysosomal hydrolase activity and autophagic flux blockage without lysosomal rupture and reactive oxygen species generation. CPP treatment led to vulnerability to H2O2-induced oxidative stress and plasma membrane injury, probably because of autophagic flux blockage and decreased plasma membrane cholesterol, respectively. CPP-induced disruption of lysosomal homeostasis, autophagy flux and plasma membrane integrity might trigger a vicious cycle, leading to progressive nephron loss.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) functions in many physiological processes, including relaxation of vascular smooth muscles, mediation of neurotransmission, inhibition of insulin signaling, and regulation of inflammation. On the other hand, sulfane sulfur, which is a sulfur atom with six valence electrons but no charge, has the unique ability to bind reversibly to other sulfur atoms to form hydroper sulfides (R-S-SH) and polysulfides (-S-Sn-S-). H2S and sulfane sulfur always coexist, and recent work suggests that sulfane sulfur species may be the actual signaling molecules in at least some biological phenomena. For example, one of the mechanisms of activity regulation of proteins by H2S is the S-sulfhydration of cysteine residues (protein Cys-SSH). In this review, we summarize recent progress on chemical tools for the study of H2S and sulfane sulfur, covering fluorescence probes utilizing various design strategies, H2S caged compounds, inhibitors of physiological H2S-producing enzymes (cystathionine γ-lyase, cystathionine β-synthase and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtrans-ferase), and labeling reagents. Fluorescence probes offer particular advantages as chemical tools to study physiological functions of biomolecules, including ease of use and real-time, nondestructive visualization of biological processes in live cells and tissues.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exerts a host of biological effects ranging from cytotoxicity to cytoprotection. Cytotoxicity of H2S in neurodegenerative diseases may be mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activation. To exploit cytoprotective effects of H2S while minimizing its toxicity, we synthesized a series of H2S-releasing NMDAR antagonists and examined their effects against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced cell death, a cellular model of Parkinson's disease. We observed that cytoprotective effects of H2S-releasing NMDAR antagonists correlated with their ability to increase intracellular sulfane sulfur, but not H2S, levels. These studies suggest that H2S-donor compounds that increase intracellular sulfane sulfur levels are potentially useful neuroprotective agents against neurodegenerative diseases.

Fluorescence imaging is a powerful tool for the visualization of biological molecules in living cells, tissue slices, and whole bodies, and is important for elucidating biological phenomena. Furthermore, zinc (Zn2+) is the second most abundant heavy metal ion in the human body after iron, and detection of chelatable Zn2+ in biological studies has attracted much attention. Herein, we present a novel, highly sensitive off-on fluorescent chemosensor for Zn2+ by using the internal charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. The rationale of our approach to highly sensitive sensor molecules is as follows. If fluorescence can be completely quenched in the absence of Zn2+, chemosensors would offer a better signal-to-noise ratio. However, it is difficult to quench the fluorescence completely before Zn 2+ binding, and most sensor molecules still show very weak fluorescence in the absence of Zn2+. But even though the sensor shows a weak fluorescence in the absence of Zn2+, this fluorescence can be further suppressed by selecting an excitation wavelength that is barely absorbed by the Zn2+-free sensor molecule. Focusing on careful control of ICT within the 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide dye platform, we designed and synthesized a new chemosensor (1) that shows a pronounced fluorescence enhancement with a blueshift in the absorption spectrum upon addition of Zn 2+. The usefulness of 1 for monitoring Zn2+ changes was confirmed in living HeLa cells. There have been several reports on 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide-based fluorescent sensor molecules. However, 1 is the first Zn2+-sensitive off-on fluorescent sensor molecule that employs the ICT mechanism; most off-on sensor molecules for Zn2+ employ the photoinduced electron transfer (PeT) mechanism. © 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.

The spirolactam ring-opening process of rhodamine derivative is one of the most useful mechanisms for controlling fluorescence properties. However, the open/closed equilibrium reaction of rhodamine spirolactam has not been well characterized. Therefore, we examined the relationship between the spirolactam ring-opening process of rhodamine derivatives and the structure of the xanthene moiety. Based on the results of this investigation, we selected a candidate xanthene moiety for a Zn2+ sensor, and successfully developed a new fluorescence probe for Zn2+. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A series of new diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-bisamide chelators has been prepared and characterized for application as zinc sensors. We have designed and synthesized (GdLa)2-, which contains a DTPA-bisamide moiety. The R1 relaxivity of (GdLa)2- solution decreased monotonically on the addition of Zn2+. Moreover, (GdLa)2- showed high selectivity for Zn2+ against Ca2+ and Mg2+. We also measured the UV-visible spectra and the coldspray ionization (CSI) MS spectra and concluded that the 1-to-1 Zn2+ complex of (GdLa)2- is stable at higher concentrations of Zn2+. These complexes should provide the basis for creating a superior Zn2+-sensitive MRI contrast agent and are excellent candidates for incorporation into sensors designed for selective detection of Zn2+ in biological applications.

Near-infrared (NIR) imaging techniques have attracted significant attention for biological and medicinal applications due to the ability of NIR to penetrate deeply into tissues. However, there are very few stable, activatable molecular probes that can utilize NIR light in the wavelength range beyond 800 nm. Herein, we report a new activatable NIR system for photoacoustic imaging based on tautomeric benziphthalocyanines (BPcs). We found that the existence of a free hydroxyl group is crucial for NIR absorption of BPcs. Synthesized water-soluble hydroxy BPcs exhibited high photostability and no fluorescence, which are desirable features for photoacoustic imaging. We synthesized BPcs in which the free hydroxyl group was masked by an esterase-labile or an H2O2-labile group. The photoacoustic signals of these hydroxy-masked BPcs were increased upon NIR excitation at 880 nm in the presence of esterase or H2O2, respectively. These are rare examples of activatable probes utilizing NIR light at around 900 nm.

Fluorescence probes that can detect pH are useful tools for biological research and clinical diagnosis. Here we report pH-activatable near-infrared fluorescence probes, based on hydroxymethyl germanium-rhodamine (HMGeR), that are suitable for a range of biological applications. The pKa, the ratio of the fluorescent form in an acidic environment, and the absorption/emission wavelengths can all be conveniently optimized. The most promising probe, 2-HM IGeR, offers significant advantages over currently available near-infrared pH probes, notably high quantum efficiency, appropriate pKa value for biological applications, and high photostability. Further, our molecular design strategy allows easy conjugation of the probes to biomolecules without loss of functionality. We illustrate the value of this strategy by developing probe-Herceptin® and probe-avidin conjugates to visualize pH change in cellular vesicles during endocytosis, and to visualize tumors in a mouse model, respectively. We believe 2-HM IGeR is currently among the best-in-class pH-activatable near-infrared probes for biological and medical research.

The ever-growing demand for fluorogenic dyes usable in the rapid construction of analyte-responsive fluorescent probes, has recently contributed to a revival of interest in the chemistry of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) pigments. In this context, we have explored the potential of symmetrical and unsymmetrical DPP derivatives bearing two or one 4-pyridyl substituents acting as optically tunable group(s). The unique fluorogenic behavior of these molecules, closely linked to N-substitution/charge state of their pyridine unit (i.e., neutral pyridine or cationic pyridinium), has been used to design DPP-based fluorescent probes for detection of hypoxia-related redox enzymes and penicillin G acylase (PGA). In this paper, we describe synthesis, spectral characterization and bioanalytical validations of these probes. Dramatic differences in terms of aqueous stability and enzymatic fluorescence activation were observed. This systematic study enables to delineate the scope of application of pyridine-flanked DPP fluorophores in the field of enzyme biosensing.

Intracellular sodium concentration plays important roles in many cellular processes, but methods to analyze dynamic change of [Na+] in organelles of interest are still lacking. To address this problem, controlled localization of fluorescent Na+ probes is a key issue. In this work, we developed a protein-coupled Na+-sensitive fluorescent probe, HaloNa-1, which covalently labelled a HaloTag protein expressed at specific organelles in living cells. Fluorescence intensity of HaloNa-1 increased by approximately three-fold when complexed with Na+, and the dissociation constant was within physiological range. Notably, by conjugating a fluorescent protein to the HaloTag protein and using it as internal standard, one can reduce unwanted variation of probe fluorescence due to different cell volume, HaloTag expression level, etc. With this technique, we could observe elevation of intracellular [Na+] after ionophore stimulation with higher reliability than conventional sensors. We believe our probe is potentially useful to understand Na+ dynamics inside cells.

Noninvasive visualization and investigation of interactions among proteins, biomolecules, and enzymes in living cells is an important goal for biologists, and fluorescence probes are powerful tools for this purpose. Because many target molecules are present in only trace amounts, high sensitivity is very important, and it is common to improve the sensitivity of fluorescence probes by focusing on high reaction velocity, Kd. (Gee, K. R.; Archer, E. A.; Lapham, L. A.; Leonard, M. E.; Zhou, Z.; Bingham, J.; Diwu, Z. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2000, 10, 1515-1518.) So far, we have designed and synthesized various highly sensitive fluorescence probes based on the above concepts. (Gabe, Y.; Urano, Y.; Kikuchi, K.; Kojima, H.; Nagano, T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 3357-3367. Komatsu, K.; Urano, Y.; Kojima, H.; Nagano, T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 13447-13454.) Nevertheless, they were sometimes insufficiently sensitive to detect biomolecules in living cells, despite high chemical sensitivity in cuvette. In this report, we suggest a new approach to increase the sensitivity of fluorescence probes, focusing on their intracellular retention. Since calcein is well-retained, we investigated its structural, chemical, and optical characteristics and found that the iminodiacetic acid group (IAG) is a key structure for the intracellular retention. We next designed and synthesized novel fluorescence probes containing IAGs. They showed superior intracellular retention, making it possible to visualize low concentrations of target molecules that would be difficult to observe with conventional probes and permitting long-term observation in living cells. Improvement of intracellular retention of fluorescence probes holds great promise as a strategy for developing a wide range of highly sensitive probes for studies on various biological phenomena. © 2009 American Chemical Society.

Gadolinium(III) ion (Gd3+) complexes are widely used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and many attempts have been made to couple them to sensor moieties in order to visualize biological phenomena of interest inside the body. However, the low sensitivity of MRI has made it difficult to develop practical MRI contrast agents for in vivo imaging. We hypothesized that practical MRI contrast agents could be designed by targeting a specific biological environment, rather than a specific protein such as a receptor. To test this idea, we designed and synthesized a Gd3+-based MRI contrast agent, 2BDP3Gd, for visualizing atherosclerotic plaques by linking the Gd3+-complex to the lipophilic fluorophore BODIPY to stain lipid-rich environments. We found that 2BDP3Gd was selectively accumulated into lipid droplets of adipocytes at the cellular level. Atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits were clearly visualized in T1-weighted MR images after intravenous injection of 2BDP3Gd in vivo.

Folate receptors (FRs) are membrane proteins involved in folic acid uptake, and the alpha isoform (FR-α) is overexpressed in ovarian and endometrial cancer cells. For fluorescence imaging of FRs in vivo, the near-infrared (NIR) region (650–900 nm), in which tissue penetration is high and autofluorescence is low, is optimal, but existing NIR fluorescent probes targeting FR-α show high non-specific tissue adsorption, and require prolonged washout to visualize tumors. We have designed and synthesized a new NIR fluorescent probe, FolateSiR-1, utilizing a Si-rhodamine fluorophore having a carboxy group at the benzene moiety, coupled to a folate ligand moiety through a negatively charged tripeptide linker. This probe exhibits very low background fluorescence and afforded a tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) of up to 83 in FR-expressing tumor-bearing mice within 30 min. Thus, FolateSiR-1 has the potential to contribute to the research in the field of biology and the clinical medicine.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) permits noninvasive three-dimensional imaging of opaque organisms. Gadolinium (Gd3+) complexes have become important imaging tools as MRI contrast agents for MRI studies, though most of them are nonspecific and report solely on anatomy. Recently, MRI contrast agents have been reported whose ability to relax water protons is triggered or greatly enhanced by recognition of a particular biomolecule. This new class of MRI contrast agents could open up the possibility of reporting on the physiological state or metabolic activity deep within living specimens. One possible strategy for this purpose is to utilize the increase in the longitudinal water proton r1 relaxivity that occurs upon slowing the molecular rotation of a small paramagnetic complex, a phenomenon which is known as receptor-induced magnetization enhancement (RIME), by either binding to a macro-molecule or polymerization of the agent itself. Here we describe the design and synthesis of a novel β-galactosidase-activated MRI contrast agent, the Gd3+ complex [Gd-5], by using the RIME approach. β-Galactosidase is commonly used as a marker gene to monitor gene expression. This newly synthesized compound exhibited a 57% increase in the r1 relaxivity in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) with 4.5% w/v human serum albumin (HSA) in the presence of β-galactosidase. Detailed investigations revealed that RIME is the dominant factor in this increase of the observed r1 relaxivity, based on analysis of Gd3+ complexes [Gd-5] and [Gd-8], which is generated from [Gd-5] by the activity of β-galactosidase, and spectroscopic analysis of their corresponding Tb3+ complexes, [Tb-5] and [Tb-8]. © 2008 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.

We have established the diced electrophoresis gel (DEG) assay as a proteome-wide screening tool to identify enzymes with activities of interest using turnover-based fluorescent substrates. The method utilizes the combination of native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with a multiwell-plate- based fluorometric assay to find protein spots with the specified activity. By developing fluorescent substrates that mimic the structure of neutrophil chemoattractants, we could identify enzymes involved in metabolic inactivation of the chemoattractants. © 2013 American Chemical Society.