Molecular Probes, Inc.

Paul J Millard

Stephen T Yue

Richard P Haugland

Bruce L Roth

Victoria L Singer

Kyle R Gee

K Sam Wells

Laurie J Jones

Thomas J Mozer

Xiaokui Jin

The present invention describes a family of photolabile caged ionophores. The compounds of the present invention are photolytically cleavable esters of nigericin, ionomycin, A-23187, 4-Br-A-23187 and monensin. The photolysis of the present compounds allows the release of the free ionophore in vivo or in vitro with precise spatial and temporal control. The compounds are useful in the study of ion transport and control in cells and across membranes.

Photolabile caged ionophores and method of using in a membrane

The invention comprises cyanine dyes, in particular chemically reactive dyes, conjugates of reactive cyanine dyes, the non-covalent complexes of nucleic acids with the dyes and dye-conjugates of the invention, and a method of forming a nucleic acid complex with the dyes and dye-conjugates of the present invention. The dyes of the invention are useful for the preparation of dye-conjugates. The presence of a reactive group on the unsymmetrical cyanine dyes of the invention facilitates their covalent conjugation to a variety of substances, both biological and synthetic.

Chemically reactive unsymmetrical cyanine dyes and their conjugates

The invention describes the preparation and use of fluorescent stains for nucleic acids derived from unsymmetrical cyanine dyes comprising a substituted benzazolium ring system linked by a methine bridge to a pyridinium or quinolinium ring system having at least one substituent on the pyridinium or quinolinium ring that contains a heteroatom. The presence of the heteroatom-containing substituent results in higher sensitivity to oligonucleotides and larger nucleic acid polymers in a wide range of cells and gels, and for use in analysis of cell structure, membrane integrity or function.

Substituted unsymmetrical cyanine dyes with selected permeability

The invention relates to a method of analyzing a sample thought to contain bacteria using an aqueous solution comprising one or more fluorescent dyes: a fluorescent dye of formula I, a fluorescent dye of formula II, a fluorescent dye of formula III, and a fluorescent dye of formula IV. Each of the dyes differ each from the other in their affinity for nucleic acids and in their spectral response to different types of bacteria in the sample. The first three dyes are nucleic acid stains and the fourth dye is a fluorescent reagent that binds selectively to cell surface components. The fluorescent dyes of formula I are highly membrane-permeant cyanine dye derivatives and label all bacteria, whether live or dead, whether Gram positive or Gram negative. The dyes of formula II label only live Gram positive bacteria and label all dead bacteria, whether Gram positive or negative. The dyes of formula II bind to nucleic acids preferentially with respect to the dyes of formula I. Fluorescent formula III dyes are membrane impermeant dyes that give a fluorescent signal only in cells with compromised plasma membrane integrity, whether Gram negative or Gram positive, and have a much higher binding affinity for nucleic acids than the fluorescent dyes of either formula I or formula II. Formula IV fluorescent dyes preferentially bind to an exterior component of a bacterium. The dyes are combined with a sample suspected of containing bacteria and illuminated at an appropriate wavelength to differentiate, according to the fluorescence response, live Gram negative, dead Gram negative, live Gram positive and dead Gram positive bacteria in the sample.

Fluorescent assay for bacterial gram reaction

The invention relates to a method of analyzing the viability of a sample of cells using an aqueous solution comprising two fluorescent dyes. Dye I has the formula: ##STR1## where R.sup.2 is C.sub.1-6 alkyl; Z.sup.- is a biologically compatible counterion;

Fluorescent viability assay using cyclic-substituted unsymmetrical

The invention relates to a method of forming distinctive intravacuolar structures that are unique to fungal cells and can be correlated with cell viability. The preferred dyes of the present invention are described by the formula: ##STR1## wherein each R.sup.1 is independently H; or an alkyl group having from 1-6 carbons; or a trifluoromethyl; or a halogen; or --OR.sup.6, --SR.sup.6 or --(NR.sup.6 R.sup.7) where R.sup.6 and R.sup.7, which can be the same or different, are independently H; or alkyl groups having 1-6 carbons; or 1-2 alicyclic, heteroalicyclic, aromatic or heteroaromatic rings, containing 1-4 heteroatoms, wherein the heteroatoms are O, N or S; or R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 taken in combination are --(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --M--(CH.sub.2).sub.2 -- where M=a single bond, --O--, --CH.sub.2 --, or --NR.sup.8 -- where R.sup.8 is H or an alkyl having 1-6 carbons; and t=1-4;

Intravacuolar stains for yeast and other fungi

The invention describes the preparation and use of fluorescent stains for nucleic acids derived from unsymmetrical cyanine dyes. In particular, the invention describes unsymmetrical cyanine dyes having a saturated or unsaturated cyclic substituent. The dyes of the invention possess superior fluorescent characteristics when complexed with nucleic acids, and have utility in any application which requires detection of nucleic acids. The presence of the cyclic substituent results in improved permeability in a wide range of living cells, resulting in improved detection of intracellular nucleic acids.

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Eugene, OR, United States of America

Paul J Millard