The flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) is an indispensable coenzyme in live cells. It acts as a catalyst in many redox responsive metabolic reactions, including oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. The real-time monitoring of flavin is important to understand the disorder in the metabolic process, redox system, etc. Thus, we have developed a fluorescent probe CPy-1 that noncovalently binds with flavin to exhibit the FRET process. 1H- NMR and docking study indicated that there is a strong hydrophobic interaction between flavins and CPy-1. Also, a π-π stacking between isoalloxazine ring in flavin and quinoline and coumarin moieties of CPy-1 favors self-assembly. The nontoxic probe CPy-1 could distinguish cancer cells from normal cells based on expressions of endogenous FAD.
A π-Stacking Based Fluorescent Probe for Labeling of Flavin Analogues in Live Cells through Unusual FRET Process