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Preparation and use of Coppersensor-1, a synthetic fluorophore for live-cell copper imaging

Nature Protocols volume 1, pages 824–827 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Coppersensor-1 (CS1) is a small-molecule, membrane-permeable fluorescent dye for imaging labile copper pools in biological samples, including live cells. This probe, comprising a boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) chromophore coupled to a thioether-rich receptor, has a picomolar affinity for Cu+ with high selectivity over competing cellular metal ions. CS1 fluorescence increases up to 10-fold on binding to Cu+. In this protocol we describe the synthesis of CS1 and how to use this chemical tool to investigate intracellular levels of labile copper in cultured cells. The preparation of CS1 is anticipated to take 4–5 d, and imaging assays can be performed in 1–2 d with cultured cells.

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Figure 3: Live-cell copper imaging with CS1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, California, USA

    Evan W Miller, Li Zeng, Dylan W Domaille & Christopher J Chang

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  1. Evan W Miller
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  2. Li Zeng
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  4. Christopher J Chang
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Correspondence to Christopher J Chang.

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Miller, E., Zeng, L., Domaille, D. et al. Preparation and use of Coppersensor-1, a synthetic fluorophore for live-cell copper imaging. Nat Protoc 1, 824–827 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2006.140

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