University of California

Stephen R Adams

Roger Y Tsien

Quyen T Nguyen

Mike Whitney

Dina Hingorani

Craig D Chambers

Frances J Perry

Robert R Henry

Jordan Tigani

Robert Bradshaw

Chao Wang

Michael A Whitney

Ashish Raniwala

Nathan Weizenbaum

Susan S Taylor

Ying Ji

Eric T Ahrens

This disclosure provides compositions of SALTAME core containing compounds and associated methods for use in tracking cells by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and related methods.

Fluorous metal chelates compositions

The present invention provides methods for guiding preservation of human neurons or human nerves during surgery by administering a fluorescently-labeled peptide that specifically binds to the human neurons or human nerves. The invention further provides human neuron or nerve targeting molecules comprising fluorescently-labeled peptides that specifically bind to human neurons or human nerves and compositions thereof.

Optimized peptides for targeting human nerves and their use in image guided surgery, diagnostic and therapeutic delivery

Optimized peptides for targeting human nerves and their use in image guided surgery, diagnostics and therapeutic

Optimized peptides for targeting human nerves and their use in image guided surgery, diagnostics and therapeutic delivery

A new class of optical indicators which are capable of memorizing and preserving the spatial localization of intracellular analytes in a time resolved manner is described. The compounds comprise a chromophore carrying a photolabile group capable of undergoing an irreversible and detectable chemical transformation upon irradiation by light. The chromophore is linked to a binding site capable of binding an analyte, wherein binding of the analyte to the binding site alters an optical property of the chromophore, thus altering the ability of the photolabile group to undergo the chemical transformation. Methods and kits for memorizing the spatial localization of the analytes are also described.

Light-triggered indicators that memorize analyte concentrations

The present invention relates to a group of organic chelators whose affinity for calcium ion in solution is decreased by electromagnetic radiation. Specifically, the chelators are related to fura-2 and utilize the addition of an azide group to the 3-position of the benzofuron ring of a fura-2 type structure. Photolysis of the azide group causes the calcium ion affinity to decrease 100 to 1000 fold. These chelators when incorporated into rat fibroblasts either by microinjection or by incubation as the membrane-permeable, enzymatically-labile esters and flash-photolyzed cause large increases in intracellular free calcium ion. These chelators are used to generate controlled fast elevation of intracellular free calcium ion concentration to mimic or modulate a number of important cellular responses, especially in nerve or muscle.

Azide-containing chelators whose affinity for calcium ion is decreased

The present invention relates to a group of organic chelators whose affinity for calcium ion in solution is decreased by electromagnetic radiation. Specifically, the chelators are related to fura-2 and utilize the addition of an azide group to the 3-position of the benzofuran ring of a fura-2 type structure. Photolysis of the azide group causes the calcium ion affinity to decrease 100 to 1000 fold. These chelators when incorporated into rat fibroblasts either by microinjection or by incubation as the membrane-permeable, enzymatically-labile esters and flash-photolyzed cause large increases in intracellular free calcium ion. These chelators are used to generate controlled fast elevation of intracellular free calcium ion concentration to mimic or modulate a number of important cellular responses, especially in nerve or muscle.

The invention provides labeled proteins suitable for determining the presence of cAMP, other second messengers and organic molecules. The proteins are separately labeled with fluorochromes which, when in close spatial proximity, preferably, less than about 6 nm, interact through the transfer of energy from one fluorochrome to the other. A composition of matter, (S.sub.1.A).sub.n1 (S.sub.2.D).sub.n2 is provided wherein S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 are two proteins which are associated in one state and substantially disassociated in another, the equilibrium between which is controlled by the free concentration of an analyte, and A and D are fluorochromes, the emission wavelength of fluorochrome D overlapping the excitation wavelength of fluorochrome A and the distance between A and D being in sufficiently close proximity to allow the radiationless transfer of energy between the fluorochromes. A and D can be selected from a variety of acceptor, donor pairs such as fluorescein and tetramethylrhodamine and derivatives thereof. The concentration of analytes such as cAMP in a sample can be determined by contacting the sample with (S.sub.1.A).sub.n1 (S.sub.2.D).sub.n2 providing energy near the excitation wavelength of D and measuring the fluorescence of A or D, the concentration of cAMP and other said analytes being determined by the ratio of emission of D to the emission of A, previously calibrated with reference solutions of known analyte concentration.

Detection of analytes using fluorescent energy transfer

The present invention relates to a group of organic chelators whose affinity for calcium ion in solution is increased by electromagnetic radiation. Specifically, the chelators are related to BAPTA and utilize the addition of an electron-withdrawing group (e.g., diazocarbonyl) to a ring of BAPTA, para to the amino group. Photochemical rearrangement of the diazoacetyl group converts the group to the electron-donating carboxymethyl group, causing the calcium ion efficiency to increase 25 to 50 fold. These chelators when incorporated into rat fibroblasts either by microinjection or by incubation as the membrane-permeable, enzymatically-labile tetraacetoxymethyl ester and flash-photolyzed cause a drop in intracellular free calcine ion to or below resting valves of about 10.sup.-7 M. These chelators are used to generate controlled fast removal of intracellular free calcium ion to mimic or modulate a number of important cellular responses, especially in nerve or muscle.

Chelators whose affinity for calcium ion is increased by illumination

The present invention discloses a new class of calcium chelating compounds which have a decreased affinity for calcium following illumination. These new compounds contain a photolabile nitrobenzyl derivative coupled to a tetracarboxylate Ca.sup.2+ chelating parent compound having the octacoordinate chelating groups characteristic of EGTA or BAPTA. However unlike EGTA or BAPTA-like compounds, in which the two halves of the chelator are linked by a simple 1,2-ethanediyl moiety, the compounds of the present invention modify the stereochemical conformation of this linkage by adding bulky substituents or incorporating the linkage into a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring. In a first form, the new compounds are comprised of a BAPTA-like chelator coupled to a single 2-nitrobenzyl derivative, which in turn is a photochemical precursor of a 2-nitrosobenzophenone. In a second form, the new compounds are comprised of a BAPTA-like chelator coupled to two 2-nitrobenzyl derivatives, themselves photochemical precursors of the related 2-nitrosobenzophenones.

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Poway, CA, United States of America

Stephen R Adams