A turn-off xanthene-based fluorescent probe for detection of cysteine and its practical application in bioimaging and food samples

Cys, as an essential amino acid that can be ingested from daily food, plays an important role in maintaining the oxidative balance in cells. Abnormal Cys levels in organisms will lead to various diseases. Therefore, it is of great significance to construct a fluorescent probe that can detect Cys levels in food and biological systems. Here, a turn-off type probe TA had been successfully synthesized, which attached diethylamine as the strong electron donor, acrylate as the weak electron donor, and xanthene as the π-bridge. TA showed wonderful selectivity, low detection limit, good photostability and well live-cell compatibility for Cys by reducing acrylate group to hydroxyl group of TAOH. The reaction mechanism was demonstrated by 1H NMR, ESI-MS spectra, pH-dependent response experiments, and DFT calculations. Importantly, the reason why TAOH exhibited no fluorescence was the disappearance of the ICT effect in the molecule due to the dominant existence of spirocyclic state of TAOH. In addition, the probe can be used not only for the imaging detection of Cys in A549 cells and zebrafish, but also for the detection of Cys levels in food samples. This work provides a new idea for the design of Cys fluorescent probe, which may be beneficial to the comprehension of the potential mechanism of novel fluorescent probe. [Display omitted] •A turn-off type probe TA had been successfully synthesized to detect Cys with wonderful selectivity, low detection limit, and well live-cell compatibility.•1H NMR, ESI-MS spectra, and DFT calculations verified that acrylate group of TA was reduced to hydroxyl group of TAOH by Cys.•TA could be used not only for the imaging of Cys in A549 cells and zebrafish, but also for the detection of Cys levels in food samples.”.