@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{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}
}
@article{SchwarzeRiemerMuelleretal.2019,
  author    = {Schwarze, Thomas and Riemer, Janine and M{\"u}ller, Holger and John, Leonard and Holdt, Hans-J{\"u}rgen and Wessig, Pablo},
  title     = {Na+ Selective Fluorescent Tools Based on Fluorescence Intensity Enhancements, Lifetime Changes, and on a Ratiometric Response},
  series = {Chemistry - a European journal},
  volume    = {25},
  journal   = {Chemistry - a European journal},
  number    = {53},
  publisher = {Wiley-VCH},
  address   = {Weinheim},
  issn      = {0947-6539},
  doi       = {10.1002/chem.201902536},
  pages     = {12412 -- 12422},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Over the years, we developed highly selective fluorescent probes for K+ in water, which show K+-induced fluorescence intensity enhancements, lifetime changes, or a ratiometric behavior at two emission wavelengths (cf. Scheme 1, K1-K4). In this paper, we introduce selective fluorescent probes for Na+ in water, which also show Na+ induced signal changes, which are analyzed by diverse fluorescence techniques. Initially, we synthesized the fluorescent probes 2, 4, 5, 6 and 10 for a fluorescence analysis by intensity enhancements at one wavelength by varying the Na+ responsive ionophore unit and the fluorophore moiety to adjust different K-d values for an intra- or extracellular Na+ analysis. Thus, we found that 2, 4 and 5 are Na+ selective fluorescent tools, which are able to measure physiologically important Na+ levels at wavelengths higher than 500 nm. Secondly, we developed the fluorescent probes 7 and 8 to analyze precise Na+ levels by fluorescence lifetime changes. Herein, only 8 (K-d=106 mm) is a capable fluorescent tool to measure Na+ levels in blood samples by lifetime changes. Finally, the fluorescent probe 9 was designed to show a Na+ induced ratiometric fluorescence behavior at two emission wavelengths. As desired, 9 (K-d=78 mm) showed a ratiometric fluorescence response towards Na+ ions and is a suitable tool to measure physiologically relevant Na+ levels by the intensity change of two emission wavelengths at 404 nm and 492 nm.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchwarzeMuellerSchmidtetal.2017,
  author    = {Schwarze, Thomas and Mueller, Holger and Schmidt, Darya and Riemer, Janine and Holdt, Hans-J{\"u}rgen},
  title     = {Design of Na+-Selective Fluorescent Probes: A Systematic Study of the Na+-Complex Stability and the Na+/K+ Selectivity in Acetonitrile and Water},
  series = {Chemistry - a European journal},
  volume    = {23},
  journal   = {Chemistry - a European journal},
  publisher = {Wiley-VCH},
  address   = {Weinheim},
  issn      = {0947-6539},
  doi       = {10.1002/chem.201605986},
  pages     = {7255 -- 7263},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {There is a tremendous demand for highly Na+-selective fluoroionophores to monitor the top analyte Na+ in life science. Here, we report a systematic route to develop highly Na+/K+ selective fluorescent probes. Thus, we synthesized a set of fluoroionophores 1, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 (see Scheme 1) to investigate the Na+/K+ selectivity and Na(+-)complex stability in CH3CN and H2O. These Na+-probes bear different 15-crown-5 moieties to bind Na+ stronger than K+. In the set of the diethylaminocoumarin-substituted fluoroionophores 1-5, the following trend of fluorescence quenching 1 > 3 > 2 > 4 > 5 in CH3CN was observed. Therefore, the flexibility of the aza-15-crown-5 moieties in 1-4 determines the conjugation of the nitrogen lone pair with the aromatic ring. As a consequence, 1 showed in CH3CN the highest Na+-induced fluorescence enhancement (FE) by a factor of 46.5 and a weaker K+ induced FE of 3.7. The Na+-complex stability of 1-4 in CH3CN is enhanced in the following order of 2 > 4 > 3 > 1, assuming that the O-atom of the methoxy group in the ortho-position, as shown in 2, strengthened the Na+-complex formation. Furthermore, we found for the N( o-methoxyphenyl) aza-15-crown-5 substituted fluoroionophores 2, 8 and 9 in H2O, an enhanced Na+-complex stability in the following order 8 > 2 > 9 and an increased Na+/K+ selectivity in the reverse order 9 > 2 > 8. Notably, the Na+-induced FE of 8 (FEF = 10.9), 2 (FEF = 5.0) and 9 (FEF = 2.0) showed a similar trend associated with a decreased K+-induced FE [8 (FEF = 2.7) > 2 (FEF = 1.5) > 9 (FEF = 1.1)]. Here, the Na+-complex stability and Na+/K+ selectivity is also influenced by the fluorophore moiety. Thus, fluorescent probe 8 (K-d = 48 mm) allows high-contrast, sensitive, and selective Na+ measurements over extracellular K+ levels. A higher Na+/K+ selectivity showed fluorescent probe 9, but also a higher Kd value of 223 mm. Therefore, 9 is a suitable tool to measure Na+ concentrations up to 300 mm at a fluorescence emission of 614 nm.},
  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{SchwarzeSchneiderRiemeretal.2016,
  author    = {Schwarze, Thomas and Schneider, Radu and Riemer, Janine and Holdt, Hans-J{\"u}rgen},
  title     = {A Highly K+-Selective Fluorescent Probe - Tuning the K+-Complex Stability and the K+/Na+ Selectivity by Varying the Lariat-Alkoxy Unit of a Phenylaza[18]crown-6 Ionophore},
  series = {Chemistry : an Asian journal ; an ACES journal},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Chemistry : an Asian journal ; an ACES journal},
  publisher = {Wiley-VCH},
  address   = {Weinheim},
  issn      = {1861-4728},
  doi       = {10.1002/asia.201500956},
  pages     = {241 -- 247},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {A desirable goal is to synthesize easily accessible and highly K+/Na+-selective fluoroionophores to monitor physiological K+ levels in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, highly K+/Na+-selective ionophores have to be developed. Herein, we obtained in a sequence of only four synthetic steps a set of K+-responsive fluorescent probes 4, 5 and 6. In a systematic study, we investigated the influence of the alkoxy substitution in ortho position of the aniline moiety in -conjugated aniline-1,2,3-triazole-coumarin-fluoroionophores 4, 5 and 6 [R=MeO (4), EtO (5) and iPrO (6)] towards the K+-complex stability and K+/Na+ selectivity. The highest K+-complex stability showed fluoroionophore 4 with a dissociation constant K-d of 19mm, but the K-d value increases to 31mm in combined K+/Na+ solutions, indicating a poor K+/Na+ selectivity. By contrast, 6 showed even in the presence of competitive Na+ ions equal K-d values (K-d(K+)=45mm and K-d(K+/Na+)=45mm) and equal K+-induced fluorescence enhancement factors (FEFs=2.3). Thus, the fluorescent probe 6 showed an outstanding K+/Na+ selectivity and is a suitable fluorescent tool to measure physiological K+ levels in the range of 10-80mm in vitro. Further, the isopropoxy-substituted N-phenylaza[18]crown-6 ionophore in 6 is a highly K+-selective building block with a feasible synthetic route.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WongAstYuetal.2016,
  author    = {Wong, Joseph K. -H. and Ast, Sandra and Yu, Mingfeng and Flehr, Roman and Counsell, Andrew J. and Turner, Peter and Crisologo, Patrick and Todd, Matthew H. and Rutledge, Peter J.},
  title     = {Synthesis and Evaluation of 1,8-Disubstituted-Cyclam/Naphthalimide Conjugates as Probes for Metal Ions},
  series = {ChemistryOpen : including thesis treasury},
  volume    = {5},
  journal   = {ChemistryOpen : including thesis treasury},
  publisher = {Wiley-VCH},
  address   = {Weinheim},
  issn      = {2191-1363},
  doi       = {10.1002/open.201600010},
  pages     = {375 -- 385},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Fluorescent molecular probes for metal ions have a raft of potential applications in chemistry and biomedicine. We report the synthesis and photophysical characterisation of 1,8-disubstituted-cyclam/naphthalimide conjugates and their zinc complexes. An efficient synthesis of 1,8-bis-(2-azidoethyl)cyclam has been developed and used to prepare 1,8-disubstituted triazolyl-cyclam systems, in which the pendant group is connected to triazole C4. UV/Vis and fluorescence emission spectra, zinc binding experiments, fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime measurements and pH titrations of the resultant bis-naphthalimide ligand elucidate a complex pattern of photophysical behaviour. Important differences arise from the inclusion of two fluorophores in the one probe and from the variation of triazole substitution pattern (dye at C4 vs. N1). Introducing a second fluorophore greatly extends fluorescence lifetimes, whereas the altered substitution pattern at the cyclam amines exerts a major influence on fluorescence output and metal binding. Crystal structures of two key zinc complexes evidence variations in triazole coordination that mirror the solution-phase behaviour of these systems.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchwarzeRiemerEidneretal.2015,
  author    = {Schwarze, Thomas and Riemer, Janine and Eidner, Sascha and Holdt, Hans-J{\"u}rgen},
  title     = {A Highly K+-Selective Two-Photon Fluorescent Probe},
  series = {Chemistry - a European journal},
  volume    = {21},
  journal   = {Chemistry - a European journal},
  number    = {32},
  publisher = {Wiley-VCH},
  address   = {Weinheim},
  issn      = {0947-6539},
  doi       = {10.1002/chem.201501473},
  pages     = {11306 -- 11310},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {A highly K+-selective two-photon fluorescent probe for the in vitro monitoring of physiological K+ levels in the range of 1-100 mM is reported. The two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) probe shows a fluorescence enhancement (FE) by a factor of about three in the presence of 160 mM K+, independently of one-photon (OP, 430 nm) or two-photon (TP, 860 nm) excitation and comparable K+-induced FEs in the presence of competitive Na+ ions. The estimated dissociation constant (K-d) values in Na+-free solutions (K-d(OP)=(28 +/- 5) mM and K-d(TP)=(36 +/- 6) mM) and in combined K+/Na+ solutions (K-d(OP)=(38 +/- 8) mM and K-d(TP)=(46 +/- 25) mM) reflecting the high K+/Na+ selectivity of the fluorescent probe. The TP absorption cross-section (sigma(2PA)) of the TPEF probe+160 mMK(+) is 26 GM at 860 nm. Therefore, the TPEF probe is a suitable tool for the in vitro determination of K+.},
  language  = {en}
}