Fluorescence sensors development and application

The development of highly selective and sensitive fluorescent sensors has received considerable attention owing to their utility in clarifying and analyzing the roles of ions and biomolecules in living systems. A series of water-soluble fluorescent sensors based on the pyridine-containing tetraazamacrocycle were designed and synthesized, which show high selectivity and sensitivity for ratiometric recognition Of Cu , Zn , Hg , pyrophosphate, ATP, Hcy, calf thymus DNA and bovine serum albumin, respectively. Wherein, an NBD-armed tetraazamacrocyclic fluorescent probe was specifically localized in lysosomes and successfully applied to visualize Cu as well as to monitor Cu level change in the lysosomes of living cells. A Zn-tetraazamacrocycle complex bearing three naphthalene moieties recognizes binds and causes damage to DNA, and shows considerable cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines with a different apoptotic pathway from that of cisplatin (Representative papers: Biosensors and Bioelectronics 2016, 83, 213; Biosensors and Bioelectronics 2015, 72, 1;  Chem. Commun.2013, 49, 11263; Dalton Trans. 2011, 40, 1984(Cover paper); Chem. Commun.2011, 47, 11330.).

Nanobiosensors development and application

Functional nanomaterial is the most vibrant area of nanomaterial science, which has broad application prospects in biology, energy, environment, information, aerospace and other high-tech fields. We developed a series of novel molecularly imprinted polymer based on nanomaterials, which were able to selectively recognize hydroquinone, aspirin, dopamine and bovine hemoglobin, respectively. We also prepared a series of coordination polymer nanoparticles and put forward the growth mechanism of the nanomaterials. The fluorescence properties, antibacterial and anti-tumor activities of nanomaterials were studied systematically, and their derivative materials were served as energy storage materials of alithium ion battery and electrode materials of super capacitor ( Representative papers: Chem. Eur. J. 2013, 19, 7084; Cryst. Growth Des. 2012, 12, 5606; Cryst. Growth Des. 2012, 12, 3786; J. Phys. Chem. B 2010, 114, 3999; Anal. Chem. 2009, 81, 7625; J. Phys. Chem. C 2008, 112, 4849.).

Interactions between biomacromolecules and metal ions and organic small molecules

1) Arsenic is a biologically active element and can be metabolized by arsenic ( 3) methyltransferase(AS3MT) into methylated arsenics in most organisms. However the catalytic mechanism of AS3MT is not clear. Thus the mechanism of methylation, especially the factors affecting the methylation of iAs , such as reductant, should be studied further. Our group systematically studied the binding sites of inorganic arsenic and methyl donor SAM in human AS3MT and the effects of different factors on the enzyme activity. We used the rapid equilibrium kinetic model to study the reaction sequence of arsenic methylation and initially proposed catalytic mechanism of AS3MT. Arsenic has two sides, which can serve as a drug to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia. Now we are engaged in studying the effects of inorganic arsenic and its metabolites on the leukemia in order to elucidate the mechanism of arsenic in the treatment of leukemia (Representative papers: Cell death&Dis 2015, 6, e1596; FEBS Lett. 2013, 587, 2232; J. Biol. Chem. 2012, 287, 38790; J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 2009, 14, 485.).

2) Hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is central to the hypoxic response in mammals. HIF-1α prolyl hydroxylase 3 (PHD3) degrades HIF through the hydroxylation of HIF-1α. Inhibition of PHD3 activity is crucial for up-regulating HIF-1α levels, thereby acting as HIF-dependent diseases therapy. We have designed and synthesized a series of ploynitrogen compounds and proline analogs, then studied their interactions with proline hydroxylase and their effects on the regulation of HIF-specific signal transduction pathways (Representative papers: Scientific Reports 2016, 6, 20853; MedChemComm 2013, 4, 1222(Cover paper);Org. Biomol. Chem. 2012, 10, 3913.) .