Reporter molecules

The observation of dependent variable values (in functional experiments this is cellular response) as they happen (i.e., as the agonist or antagonist binds to the receptor and as the cell responds) is referred to as real time. In contrast, a response chosen at a single point in time is referred to as stop-time experimentation. There are certain experimental formats that must utilize stop-time measurement of responses since the preparation is irreparably altered by the process of measuring response. For example, measurement of gene activation through reporter molecules necessitates lysis of the cell. Therefore, only one... 

A molecular probe with dual output signals offers two detection modes allowing use of the same probe in different environments. We have demonstrated how an AB2 self-immolative dendron with double quinone methide release mechanism can be applied to create a molecular probe with UV-Vis and fluorescence modes for the detection of a specific catalytic activity.15 The molecular probe is illustrated in Fig. 5.36. The central unit of the probe (the molecular adaptor) is linked to an enzymatic substrate that acts as a trigger and to two different reporter molecules. Cleavage of the enzymatic substrate triggers the release of the two reporters and a consequent activation of their signals. 

As far as we know, this is the first molecular probe that includes two different types of reporter units activated upon on a specific stimulus. The other option to achieve dual detection would be to use two separate probes. However, in this case there could be a problem of competitive catalysis (circumstances in which the Km of the two substrate is not identical). In our probe, 6-aminoquinoline and 4-nitrophenol, detected by fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy, respectively, were used as reporter units. Due to the synthetic flexibility of our approach, other reporter molecules with different types of functional groups, like amine or hydroxyl, can be linked to our molecular probe. The two assays must be orthogonal to each other, in order to prevent disturbances in the detection measurement. Another advantage of the probe is the aqueous solubility... 

Anisotropy describes the rotational dynamics of reporter molecules or of any sensor segments to which the reporter is rigidly fixed. In the simplest case when both the rotation and the fluorescence decay can be represented by single-exponential functions, the range of variation of anisotropy (r) is determined by variation of the ratio of fluorescence lifetime (xF) and rotational correlation time ([Pg.9]

Biophysical analysis of biomolecules like proteins, nucleic acids, or lipids utilizes intrinsic physical properties of the observed molecule itself or of an associated reporter molecule, which reflect information about structural characteristics, interactions, or reactions of the subject observed. In most cases the analysis (and the labels introduced) only interferes slightly with the interaction of interest and does not induce significant changes in the properties of the reactants. 

The model immunoassay is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in which a non-specific capture antibody is bound to a surface, such as a multi-well plate or small tube [13]. In the basic form of ELISA, a second antibody tagged with an enzyme interacts specifically with the analyte. The enzyme assay produces a colored product that is read with a spectrophotometer. There are many variations on the basic immunoassay format that serve to increase sensitivity, specificity, linear range, and speed. Many commercial instruments have been developed to take advantage of various technologies for reporter molecules. The immunoassay may be coupled to an electronic sensor and transducer, such as a surface acoustical wave (SAW) sensor. Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a method in which the detector antibody is tagged with a ruthenium-containing chelate [13-15]. When the tag is... 

Fluorescent reporter molecules consisting of a single receptor, a single fluorophore, and a spacer electronically separating these two are popular probes since the... 

The first ever reported molecule to undergo encapsulation was fullerene, which spontaneously and accidentally ended up in the tubes during post-processing of raw tubes prepared via the pulsed laser vaporization method. This could be considered a milestone in the self-assembling of a new class of nanomaterials [78]. 

The colorimetric methods depend on a chemical reaction or interaction between the protein and the colorimetric reagent. The resulting generation of a chro-mophore, whose intensity is protein-concentration dependent, can be quantified using a spectrophotometer. Beer s Law is employed to derive the protein concentration from a standard curve of absorbances. Direct interaction of the protein with a chromogenic molecule (dye) or protein-mediated oxidation of the reporter molecule generates a new chromophore that can be readily measured in the presence of excess reagent dye. 

Abstract Flow cytometry is a technique for rapidly examining multiple characteristics of individual cells, by recording fluorescence signals emitted from cell-associated reporter molecules, and measuring cellular light scattering properties. This chapter introduces the principles and practice of flow cytometry, and reviews examples from the literature that highlight applications of this experimental tool in the neurosciences. The chapter concludes with protocols for three basic procedures that illustrate some practical aspects of analytical flow cytometry. 

Fluorochromes are stains that interact directly with cellular components, or are used to form conjugates with antibodies or ligands, yielding fluorescent reporter molecules. O Table 13-1 lists a selection of fluoro- D Table 13-1 Fluorochromes for flow cytometry ... 

Fig. 5.3 Substrate conversion reaction for cathepsin B. Substrate Z-FR-AMC is converted by cathepsin B into two products, Z-FR and AMC, that are employed as reporter molecules at their corresponding m/z traces.

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