CYSTOLIC CA(2+) INOPHORES FOR FLUORESCENCE AND (19) F NMR

INTRACELLUAR CALCIUM IS CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF WIDESPREAD INTEREST AS A SECOND MESSENGER THAT TRIGGERS AND REGULATES CELL ACTIVATION. A SERIES OF IMPROVED CA(2+)-CHELATING AGENTS THAT CAN BE USED FOR NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE (NMR) AND FLUORESCENCE IMAGING WILL BE SYNTHESIZED AND EVALUATED FOR THEIR ABSORPTION AND EMISSION CHARACTERISTICS AS WELL AS THEIR ABILITY TO BIND CA(2+). THE PROPOSED CA(2+) INDICATORS WILL HAVE IMPROVED OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OVER CURRENTLY USED QUIN2 AND INDO-1, WHICH THEY RESEMBLE STRUCTURALLY EXCEPT FOR THE FLUOROPHORE. IN ADDITION, THE INDICATOR WILL BE FLUORINE SUBSTITUTED FOR (19)F NMR DETECTION. THE CHELATOR CAN BE USED TO FOLLOW CHANGES IN INTRACELLULAR CALCIUM CONCENTRATION, CA(2+)I, AS A FUNCTION OF TIME IN RESPONSE TO VARIOUS PERTURBING INFLUENCES.