A BODIPY-based two-photon fluorescent probe validates tyrosinase activity in live cells

Abstract

Herein, we report rational design, synthesis, and application of a two-photon fluorescent probe (Tyro-1) for tracking intracellular tyrosinase activity. The chemoselective detection of tyrosinase is precluded from interference of other competitive omnipresent oxidizing entities in cellular milieu. The probe showed 12.5-fold fluorescence enhancement at lambda(em) = 450 nm in the presence of tyrosinase. The nontoxic probe Tyro-1 provides information about H2O2-mediated upregulation of tyrosinase through cellular imaging. Its two-photon imaging ability makes it a noninvasive tool for validating the expression of tyrosinase in the live cells.