Ultrasensitive molecular building block for biothiol NMR detection at picomolar concentrations
Qingbin Zeng,
Qianni Guo,
Yaping Yuan,
Baolong Wang,
Meiju Sui,
Xin Lou,
Louis-S. Bouchard,
Xin Zhou
Affiliations
Qingbin Zeng
Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
Qianni Guo
Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
Yaping Yuan
Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
Baolong Wang
Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China
Meiju Sui
Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
Xin Lou
Department of Radiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P. R. China
Louis-S. Bouchard
California Nano Systems Institute, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Molecular Biology Institute, Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles 90095, USA
Xin Zhou
Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China; Corresponding author
Summary: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides structural and functional information, but it did not probe chemistry. Chemical information could help improve specificity of detection. Herein, we introduce a general method based on a modular design to construct a molecular building block Xe probe to help image intracellular biothiols (glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy)), the abnormal content of which is related to various diseases. This molecular building block possesses a high signal-to-noise ratio and no background signal effects. Its detection threshold was 100 pM, which enabled detection of intracellular biothiols in live cells. The construction strategy can be easily extended to the detection of any other biomolecule or biomarker. This modular design strategy promotes efficiency of development of low-cost multifunctional probes that can be combined with other readout parameters, such as optical readouts, to complement 129Xe MRI to usher in new capabilities for molecular imaging.
