Synthesis and properties of the new thiol-specific reagent difluorescein disulfide: its application on histone-histone and histone-DNA interactions

Quantitation of transcription and clonal selection of single living cells with beta-lactamase as reporter

Gene expression was visualized in single living mammalian cells with beta-lactamase as a reporter that hydrolyzes a substrate loaded intracellularly as a membrane-permeant ester. Each enzyme molecule changed the fluorescence of many substrate molecules from green to blue by disrupting resonance energy transfer. This wavelength shift was detectable by eye or color film in individual cells containing less than 100 beta-lactamase molecules. The robust change in emission ratio reveals quantitative heterogeneity in real-time gene expression, enables clonal selection by flow cytometry, and forms a basis for high-throughput screening of pharmaceutical candidate drugs in living mammalian cells.

Fluorescence studies on clupein protamines: evidence for globular conformation

Conjugates of fluorescein isothiocyanate with clupein YI, YII and Z, the protamines from Clupea palasii, were prepared and their fluorescence utilized to determine the rotational relaxation times of the proteins. All conjugates exhibited single component lifetimes near 4.05 ns. Linear isothermal Perrin plots were obtained for all conjugates; these data indicated rotational relaxation times of 3.33 ns for clupein YI and YII and 3.19 ns for clupein Z. These results and the results from our previous studies lead us to postulate globular conformations for the three proteins with hydrated molecular diameters of 22 A. Based on these findings a three dimensional model for Clupein YII is proposed.

4'-[Aminomethyl]fluorescein and its N-alkyl derivatives: useful reagents in immunodiagnostic techniques

A new class of fluorescein derivatives with chemically reactive amino and N-alkylamino "arms" in the 4'-position were synthesized and their utility in the development of fluorescence polarization immunoassays (FPIA) for cortisol and estriol was evaluated. The positioning of the arm in one of the phenolic rings introduced chirality due to hindered rotation and led to rotational isomers. These were separable when brought into a chiral environment, i.e., conjugated to steroid molecules. In the case of cortisol conjugates, the rotamers had similar properties in the FPIA. In the case of estriol conjugates, however, each rotamer exhibited different immunoassay characteristics. The rotamers interconverted at 80 degrees C, with the rate increasing with temperature. An unusual N-alkylation phenomenon by alkanols in acidic medium was observed. A serum cortisol FPIA, developed using an N-alkylamino fluorescein derivative, showed good correlation with a reference RIA.

A fluorogenic, mixed-disulfide reagent for thiol assay

The design and synthesis of the mixed disulfide (ortho-nitroaniline-N-ethyldithio) 2-[pyridyl-5-thioureido-N'-(5-fluorescein)] are described and the chemical and spectroscopic properties of this thiol-specific fluorogenic reagent are presented. The high reactivity and sensitivity of this reagent in thiol assay are demonstrated with low-molecular-weight thiols and with human carbonmonoxyhemoglobin and its subunits. Comparison with conventional absorption methods shows that at least 100 times less material is needed; moreover, high background absorbance or turbidity do not interfere with the assay.