Optimizing the SYBR green related cyanine dye structure to aim for brighter nucleic acid visualization

In recent years, the studies of RNA and its use for the development of RNA based vaccines have increased drastically. Although cyanine dyes are commonly used probes for studying nucleic acids, in a wide range of applications, there is still a growing need for better and brighter dyes. To meet this demand, we have systematically studied the structure of SYBR green-related cyanine dyes to gain a deeper understanding of their interactions with biomolecules especially how they interact with nucleic acids and the structural components which makes them strongly fluorescent. Herein, five new dyes were synthesized, and their photophysical properties were evaluated. Observations of photophysical characteristics were compared to calculations by using density functional theory in its ground state and time-dependent form to model the optical absorption spectra and excited state properties of the selected molecules. Single crystal X-ray crystal structures of five cyanine dyes were determined and the interactions of the cyanine dye-DNA complex were studied by using molecular docking and molecular dynamics calculations. Three molecular structural features were discovered: a) removing the benzene ring from the thiazolium moiety of the dye lowers the fluorescence drastically, and that the quantum yield can be enhanced, therefore increasing the fluorescence, by b) incorporating methanethiol substituent at the quinoline moiety instead of dimethylamine or c) changing the thiazolium moiety to an oxazolium moiety. [Display omitted] •Five new cyanine dyes were synthesized.•The main characteristics that affect the fluorescence of the dyes were recognized.•Up to 1050 times fluorescence enhancement was observed.•X-ray crystal structures of five cyanine dyes were solved.•MD calculations suggested that studied dyes bind with the AT-rich minor groove of dsDNA.