Mitochondria-targeting turn-on fluorescent probe for HClO detection and imaging in living cells.

Hypochlorous/hypochlorite (HClO/ClO), one of the most important signal molecule, plays a crucial role in many cellular signaling pathways. It is reported that the HClO/ClO level in mitochondria is important to maintain the normal mitochondrial function. Herein, we present two simple fluorescent probes BAC and mitochondria-targeting fluorescent probe TACB for the detection of ClO. Probes BAC &TACB could be sensitively and selectivity detecting ClO at the nanomolar levels with the detection limit of 1.64 × 10 M and 9.86 × 10 M, respectively. Additionally, probes BAC &TACB with the response unit of CO moiety could selectively detect ClO over other various analytes such as anions, metal ions and OH, O, HO. The response time of probe TACB for ClO (<20 s), implying that it could offer a real-time analytical assay of ClO. Finally, probe BAC was used for monitoring the ClO in HEK293T cells and probe TACB could be utilized to track the fluctuations of exogenous ClO levels in the mitochondria of Hela cells.