Peptide-based targeting of fluorescent zinc sensors to the plasma membrane of live cells

Abstract

Combining fluorescent zinc sensors with the facile syntheses and biological targeting capabilities of peptides, we created green- and blue-emitting probes that (i) are readily prepared on the solid-phase, (ii) retain the photophysical and zinc-binding properties of the parent sensor, and (iii) can be directed to the extracellular side of plasma membranes in live cells for detection of mobile zinc.