A mitochondria-targeted red-emitting probe for imaging hydrogen sulfide in living cells and zebrafish

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important endogenous signaling molecule with multiple biological functions. Based on the thiolysis of NBD (7-nitro-1,2,3-benzoxadiazole) amine, herein we rationally design and synthesize a new fluorescent probe 1 for the detection of mitochondrial H2S in living cells. Probe 1 displays bright red-emitting fluorescence after H2S activation (., 0.77). 1 shows higher selectivity and sensitivity for H2S than the red-emitting probe Rho-NBD (ChemBioChem, 2016, 17, 962). Moreover, 1 is water-soluble, cell-membrane-permeable, of low cytotoxicity and mitochondria-targeting, and can be employed for monitoring mitochondrial H2S in living cells.