The University of Tokyo

Kazuki Kiyose

Tetsuo Nagano

Hirotatsu Kojima

Sakiko Aizawa

A compound represented by the following general formula (I): [wherein Rand Rrepresent a Calkyl group; R, Rand Rrepresent hydrogen atom, a Calkyl group, or an aryl group; Yand Yrepresent &#x2014;O&#x2014;, &#x2014;S&#x2014;, &#x2014;Se&#x2014;, &#x2014;CH&#x2550;CH&#x2014;, &#x2014;C(R)(R)&#x2014;, or &#x2014;N(R)&#x2014; (wherein R, Rand Rrepresent hydrogen atom or a Calkyl group); A represents a Calkylene group; n and n' represent 0, 1 or 2; Zand Zrepresent a nonmetallic atom group required to form a benzo-condensed ring or a naphtho-condensed ring; Lto Lrepresent a methine group; and Mrepresents a counter ion in a number required for neutralizing electrical charge], which is useful as a fluorescent probe of which optical characteristics change depending on pH change.

Fluorescent probe

A fluorescent probe comprising a compound represented as (Fluorophore A)-S-(Fluorophore B) (Fluorophore A and Fluorophore B are fluorophores which emit fluorescence when they are irradiated with an excitation light of a wavelength of 600 to 950 nm, Fluorophore A has a property that it shows change of fluorescence characteristic before and after a specific reaction with an substance to be measured, and S represents a spacer which connects Fluorophore A and Fluorophore B), which compound shows substantial change in efficiency of fluorescence resonance energy transfer between Fluorophore A and Fluorophore B before and after the specific reaction with the objective substance, wherein Fluorophore A is represented by the following formula (AI): which uses and shows an excitation light wavelength/fluorescence wavelength in the near infrared region, lights of which region show superior biological tissue permeability, and enables measurement of an substance to be measured by the ratio method.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Kazuki Kiyose