Selective RNA binding and imaging with imidazopyrazine-based fluorescent molecule

Sevinçli Z. Ş., Amudi K., Öncel B. C., Yurtcu E., İşeri Ö. D., Menges N.

Spectrochimica Acta - Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, cilt.340, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 340
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.saa.2025.126382
  • Dergi Adı: Spectrochimica Acta - Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, INSPEC, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Bioimaging, Cancer cell line, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Heterocyclic molecules, RNA binding
  • Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

We report the synthesis and characterization of novel imidazopyrazine-based fluorescent molecules 5a and 5b targeting RNA and DNA binding. Molecule 5b showed superior photophysical properties with stable fluorescence and high quantum yield in various solvents. UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed strong RNA binding with time-dependent fluorescence quenching and increasing absorbance, suggesting groove binding or π-π stacking interactions. Furthermore, agarose gel electrophoresis further confirmed selective RNA binding of 5b. Imaging studies demonstrated that 5b penetrated into viable MCF-7 cells and selectively stained RNA and retained fluorescence for up to 8 h under ambient conditions. These findings advance the study of RNA dynamics in living cells, highlighting the potential of 5b for RNA-specific bioimaging and sensing applications.