Mitochondria-targeting turn-on fluorescent probe for HClO detection and imaging in living cells.

Hypochlorous/hypochlorite (HClO/ClO-), one of the most important signal molecule, plays a crucial role in many cellular signaling pathways. It is reported that the HClO/ClO- level in mitochondria is important to maintain the normal mitochondrial function. Herein, we present two simple fluorescent probes BAC and mitochondria-targeting fluorescent probe TACB for the detection of ClO-. Probes BAC &TACB could be sensitively and selectivity detecting ClO- at the nanomolar levels with the detection limit of 1.64 × 10-9 M and 9.86 × 10-8 M, respectively. Additionally, probes BAC &TACB with the response unit of CO moiety could selectively detect ClO- over other various analytes such as anions, metal ions and OH, 1O2, H2O2. The response time of probe TACB for ClO- (<20 s), implying that it could offer a real-time analytical assay of ClO-. Finally, probe BAC was used for monitoring the ClO- in HEK293T cells and probe TACB could be utilized to track the fluctuations of exogenous ClO- levels in the mitochondria of Hela cells.