Insight into Reactive Oxygen Species Utilizing Fluorescence Probes

Biologically, reactive species are an important group of molecules that have been linked with cellular functions such as cellular division, ATP synthesis, signaling, apoptosis, and other key processes. These compounds are classified relative to their elemental counterparts, with the most prominently studied being reactive nitrogen, sulfur, and, most commonly, oxygen species. As such, the study of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has played an important role in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of cellular biology. Given these molecules' reactive nature, biologists have been able to previously use methods such as gel electrophoresis to study ROS production by measuring levels of either protein or plasmid DNA cleavage. While these methods are effective for highly focused experiments, they lack any additional information aside from relative ROS levels, with no regards to type and quantitative levels of ROS. Therefore, other methods are required to obtain this additional information. For example, fluorescence spectroscopy has been used as a promising tool, giving insight into the use of ROS specific fluorophores that produce recognizable fluorescence shifts. This has allowed for distinct identification and, more importantly, quantification of ROS species. In contrast with processes such as gel electrophoresis, these measurements allow for rapid and reproduceable results. Along with these results, the usage of fluorescent ROS probes has allowed for the expansion into related techniques like fluorescent microscopy. The continued synthesis and testing of these various fluorophores allow researchers to gain a deeper understanding into complex cellular dynamics.

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