Molecules, Vol. 29, Pages 1196: Fluorimetric Detection of Insulin Misfolding by Probes Derived from Functionalized Fluorene Frameworks

Molecules, Vol. 29, Pages 1196: Fluorimetric Detection of Insulin Misfolding by Probes Derived from Functionalized Fluorene Frameworks Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules29061196 Authors: Álvaro Sarabia-Vallejo Ana Molina Mónica Martínez-Orts Alice D’Onofrio Matteo Staderini Maria Laura Bolognesi M. Antonia Martín Ana I. Olives J. Carlos Menéndez A group of functionalized fluorene derivatives that are structurally similar to the cellular prion protein ligand N,N′-(methylenedi-4,1-phenylene)bis [2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)acetamide] (GN8) have been synthesized. These compounds show remarkable native fluorescence due to the fluorene ring. The substituents introduced at positions 2 and 7 of the fluorene moiety are sufficiently flexible to accommodate the beta-conformational folding that develops in amyloidogenic proteins. Changes in the native fluorescence of these fluorene derivatives provide evidence of transformations in the amyloidogenic aggregation processes of insulin. The increase observed in the fluorescence intensity of the sensors in the presence of native insulin or amyloid aggregates suggest their potential use as fluorescence probes for detecting abnormal conformations; therefore, the compounds can be proposed for use as “turn-on” fluorescence sensors. Protein–sensor dissociation constants are in the 5–10 μM range and an intermolecular charge transfer process between ...
Source: Molecules - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research