@article{WessigJohnMertens2018, author = {Wessig, Pablo and John, Leonard and Mertens, Monique}, title = {Extending the Class of [1,3]-Dioxolo[4.5-f]benzodioxole (DBD) Fluorescent Dyes}, series = {European journal of organic chemistry}, volume = {2018}, journal = {European journal of organic chemistry}, number = {14}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1434-193X}, doi = {10.1002/ejoc.201800002}, pages = {1674 -- 1681}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Synthetic routes to a collection of new fluorescent dyes are described, which are based on the [1,3]-dioxolo[4.5-f]benzodioxole (DBD) core. By introducing different electron withdrawing groups in 4- and 8-position of the DBD moiety the emission wavelength could be adjusted over a large spectral range from blue to orange light.}, language = {en} } @article{WawrzinekZiomkowskaHeuvelingetal.2013, author = {Wawrzinek, Robert and Ziomkowska, Joanna and Heuveling, Johanna and Mertens, Monique and Herrmann, Andreas and Schneider, Erwin and Wessig, Pablo}, title = {DBD Dyes as Fluorescence Lifetime Probes to Study Conformational Changes in Proteins}, series = {CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL}, volume = {19}, journal = {CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL}, number = {51}, publisher = {WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH}, address = {WEINHEIM}, issn = {0947-6539}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201302368}, pages = {17349 -- 17357}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Previously, [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-f][1,3]benzodioxole (DBD)-based fluorophores used as highly sensitive fluorescence lifetime probes reporting on their microenvironmental polarity have been described. Now, a new generation of DBD dyes has been developed. Although they are still sensitive to polarity, in contrast to the former DBD dyes, they have extraordinary spectroscopic properties even in aqueous surroundings. They are characterized by long fluorescence lifetimes (10-20ns), large Stokes shifts (approximate to 100nm), high photostabilities, and high quantum yields (>0.56). Here, the spectroscopic properties and synthesis of functionalized derivatives for labeling biological targets are described. Furthermore, thio-reactive maleimido derivatives of both DBD generations show strong intramolecular fluorescence quenching. This mechanism has been investigated and is found to undergo a photoelectron transfer (PET) process. After reaction with a thiol group, this fluorescence quenching is prevented, indicating successful bonding. Being sensitive to their environmental polarity, these compounds have been used as powerful fluorescence lifetime probes for the investigation of conformational changes in the maltose ATP-binding cassette transporter through fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy. The differing tendencies of the fluorescence lifetime change for both DBD dye generations promote their combination as a powerful toolkit for studying microenvironments in proteins.}, language = {en} } @article{SchwarzeMertensMuelleretal.2017, author = {Schwarze, Thomas and Mertens, Monique and Mueller, Peter and Riemer, Janine and Wessig, Pablo and Holdt, Hans-J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Highly K+-Selective Fluorescent Probes for Lifetime Sensing of K+ in Living Cells}, series = {Chemistry - a European journal}, volume = {23}, journal = {Chemistry - a European journal}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {0947-6539}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201704368}, pages = {17186 -- 17190}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The new K+-selective fluorescent probes 1 and 2 were obtained by Cu-I-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions of an alkyne-substituted [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-f][1,3]benzodioxole (DBD) ester fluorophore with azido-functionalized N-phenylaza-18-crown-6 ether and N-(o-isopropoxy) phenylaza-18-crown-6 ether, respectively. Probes 1 and 2 allow the detection of K+ in the presence of Na+ in water by fluorescence enhancement (2.2 for 1 at 2000mm K+ and 2.5 for 2 at 160mm K+). Fluorescence lifetime measurements in the absence and presence of K+ revealed bi-exponential decay kinetics with similar lifetimes, however with different proportions changing the averaged fluorescence decay times ((f(av))). For 1 a decrease of (f(av)) from 12.4 to 9.3ns and for 2 an increase from 17.8 to 21.8ns was observed. Variation of the substituent in ortho position of the aniline unit of the N-phenylaza-18-crown-6 host permits the modulation of the K-d value for a certain K+ concentration. For example, substitution of H in 1 by the isopropoxy group (2) decreased the K-d value from >300mm to 10mm. 2 was chosen for studying the efflux of K+ from human red blood cells (RBC). Upon addition of the Ca2+ ionophor ionomycin to a RBC suspension in a buffer containing Ca2+, the fluorescence of 2 slightly rose within 10min, however, after 120min a significant increase was observed.}, language = {en} } @article{MeynersMertensWessigetal.2017, author = {Meyners, Christian and Mertens, Monique and Wessig, Pablo and Meyer-Almes, Franz-Josef}, title = {A Fluorescence-Lifetime-Based Binding Assay for Class IIa Histone Deacetylases}, series = {Chemistry - a European journal}, volume = {23}, journal = {Chemistry - a European journal}, number = {13}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {0947-6539}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201605140}, pages = {3107 -- 3116}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs) show extremely low enzymatic activity and no commonly accepted endogenous substrate is known today. Increasing evidence suggests that these enzymes exert their effect rather through molecular recognition of acetylated proteins and recruiting other proteins like HDAC3 to the desired target location. Accordingly, class IIa HDACs like bromodomains have been suggested to act as "Readers" of acetyl marks, whereas enzymatically active HDACs of class I or IIb are called "Erasers" to highlight their capability to remove acetyl groups from acetylated histones or other proteins. Small-molecule ligands of class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs) have gained tremendous attention during the last decade and have been suggested as pharmaceutical targets in several indication areas such as cancer, Huntington's disease and muscular atrophy. Up to now, only enzyme activity assays with artificial chemically activated trifluoroacetylated substrates are in use for the identification and characterization of new active compounds against class IIa HDACs. Here, we describe the first binding assay for this class of HDAC enzymes that involves a simple mix-and-measure procedure and an extraordinarily robust fluorescence lifetime readout based on [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-f]benzodioxole-based ligand probes. The principle of the assay is generic and can also be transferred to class I HDAC8.}, language = {en} } @article{MertensHilschHaralampievetal.2018, author = {Mertens, Monique and Hilsch, Malte and Haralampiev, Ivan and Volkmer, Rudolf and Wessig, Pablo and M{\"u}ller, Peter}, title = {Synthesis and characterization of a new Bifunctionalized, Fluorescent, and Amphiphilic molecule for recruiting SH-Containing molecules to membranes}, series = {ChemBioChem}, volume = {19}, journal = {ChemBioChem}, number = {15}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1439-4227}, doi = {10.1002/cbic.201800268}, pages = {1643 -- 1647}, year = {2018}, abstract = {This study describes the synthesis and characterization of an amphiphilic construct intended to recruit SH-containing molecules to membranes. The construct consists of 1)an aliphatic chain to enable anchoring within membranes, 2)a maleimide moiety to react with the sulfhydryl group of a soluble (bio)molecule, and 3)a fluorescence moiety to allow the construct to be followed by fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy. It is shown that the construct can be incorporated into preformed membranes, thus allowing application of the approach with biological membranes. The close proximity between the fluorophore and the maleimide moiety within the construct causes fluorescence quenching. This allows monitoring of the reaction with SH-containing molecules by measurement of increases in fluorescence intensity and lifetime. Notably, the construct distributes into laterally ordered membrane domains of lipid vesicles, which is probably triggered by the length of its membrane anchor. The advantages of the new construct can be employed for several biological, biotechnological, and medicinal applications.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Mertens2017, author = {Mertens, Monique}, title = {Anwendungsorientierte Entwicklung neuer DBD-Derivate}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {222}, year = {2017}, language = {de} } @article{HoangMertensWessigetal.2018, author = {Hoang, Hoa T. and Mertens, Monique and Wessig, Pablo and Sellrie, Frank and Schenk, J{\"o}rg A. and Kumke, Michael Uwe}, title = {Antibody Binding at the Liposome-Water Interface}, series = {ACS Omega}, volume = {3}, journal = {ACS Omega}, number = {12}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {2470-1343}, doi = {10.1021/acsomega.8b03016}, pages = {18109 -- 18116}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Different signal amplification strategies to improve the detection sensitivity of immunoassays have been applied which utilize enzymatic reactions, nanomaterials, or liposomes. The latter are very attractive materials for signal amplification because liposomes can be loaded with a large amount of signaling molecules, leading to a high sensitivity. In addition, liposomes can be used as a cell-like "bioscaffold" to directly test recognition schemes aiming at cell-related processes. This study demonstrates an easy and fast approach to link the novel hydrophobic optical probe based on [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-f]-[1,3]benzodioxole (DBD dye mm239) with tunable optical properties to hydrophilic recognition elements (e.g., antibodies) using liposomes for signal amplification and as carrier of the hydrophobic dye. The fluorescence properties of mm239 (e.g., long fluorescence lifetime, large Stokes shift, high photostability, and high quantum yield), its high hydrophobicity for efficient anchoring in liposomes, and a maleimide bioreactive group were applied in a unique combination to build a concept for the coupling of antibodies or other protein markers to liposomes (coupling to membranes can be envisaged). The concept further allowed us to avoid multiple dye labeling of the antibody. Here, anti-TAMRA-antibody (DC7-Ab) was attached to the liposomes. In proof-of-concept, steady-state as well as time-resolved fluorescence measurements (e.g., fluorescence depolarization) in combination with single molecule detection (fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, FCS) were used to analyze the binding interaction between DC7-Ab and liposomes as well as the binding of the antigen rhodamine 6G (R6G) to the antibody. Here, the Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between mm239 and R6G was monitored. In addition to ensemble FRET data, single-molecule FRET (PIE-FRET) experiments using pulsed interleaved excitation were used to characterize in detail the binding on a single-molecule level to avoid averaging out effects.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HaralampievMertensSchwarzeretal.2015, author = {Haralampiev, Ivan and Mertens, Monique and Schwarzer, Roland and Herrmann, Andreas and Volkmer, Rudolf and Wessig, Pablo and M{\"u}ller, Peter}, title = {A palmitic acid functionalized with a maleimide group is used to recruit SH-containing peptides to lipid and biological membranes}, series = {The FEBS journal}, volume = {282}, booktitle = {The FEBS journal}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1742-464X}, pages = {204 -- 204}, year = {2015}, language = {en} } @article{HaralampievMertensSchwarzeretal.2015, author = {Haralampiev, Ivan and Mertens, Monique and Schwarzer, Roland and Herrmann, Andreas and Volkmer, Rudolf and Wessig, Pablo and Mueller, Peter}, title = {Recruitment of SH-Containing peptides to lipid and biological membranes through the use of a palmitic acid functionalized with a Maleimide Group}, series = {Angewandte Chemie : a journal of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker ; International edition}, volume = {54}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie : a journal of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker ; International edition}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1433-7851}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201408089}, pages = {323 -- 326}, year = {2015}, abstract = {This study presents a novel and easily applicable approach to recruit sulfhydryl-containing biomolecules to membranes by using a palmitic acid which is functionalized with a maleimide group. Notably, this strategy can also be employed with preformed (biological) membranes. The applicability of the assay is demonstrated by characterizing the binding of a Rhodamine-labeled peptide to lipid and cellular membranes using methods of fluorescence spectroscopy, lifetime measurement, and microscopy. Our approach offers new possibilities for preparing biologically active liposomes and manipulating living cells.}, language = {en} } @article{BuechnerJohnMertensetal.2018, author = {B{\"u}chner, D{\"o}rthe and John, Leonard and Mertens, Monique and Wessig, Pablo}, title = {Detection of dsDNA with [1,3]Dioxolo[4,5-f]benzodioxol (DBD) Dyes}, series = {Chemistry - a European journal}, volume = {24}, journal = {Chemistry - a European journal}, number = {60}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {0947-6539}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201804057}, pages = {16183 -- 16190}, year = {2018}, abstract = {DBD fluorescent dyes have proven to be useful in numerous applications. To widen the range of biological applications, we propose three different types of DBD molecules that have been modified in such a way that DNA interaction becomes probable. After the successful synthesis of all three compounds, we tested their fluorescent properties and their DNA binding abilities. Two of the three probes exhibit an interaction with dsDNA with subsequent fluorescence enhancement. The determined binding constants of the two new DNA dyes are comparable to other minorgroove-binding dyes. Their large Stokes shifts and their long fluorescent lifetimes are outstanding features of these dyes.}, language = {en} }