Small molecule fluorescent probe: illumining and monitoring foreign proteins based on high fidelity imaging in living cells

Abstract Traditional biotechnology, taking advantage of fluorescent protein (FP) to investigate the foreign protein, was difficult to visualize and image accurately in living cells. Herein, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was illumined in virtue of the prepared probe 1, which could monitor the foreign protein of the intracellular recognition, transportation and metabolism under confocal microscopy. Verified by 1H NMR titration experiment and molecular docking simulation, the probes bonded to BSA mainly through hydrogen bond and suitable hydrophobicity, realizing the visualization and high-fidelity imaging of the foreign protein in living cells. The results provided the beneficial approach and methodology for further understanding protein metabolism.