Provided is a compound comprising the structure: (SIG)-(SI-MOD)m. In this compound, SIG is a signaling molecule, SI is a self-immolative structure bound to SIG such that SIG has a reduced signal relative to the signal of SIG without SI, MOD is a moiety bound to SI that is subject to modification by an activator, and m is an integer from 1 to about 10. With this compound, when MOD is modified by an activator, SI is destabilized and self-cleaved from SIG such that SIG generates an increased signal. Also provided is a method of determining whether a sample comprises an activator, using the above-described compound. Additionally provided is a method of determining whether a cell comprises a nitroreductase using the above-described compound where nitroreductase is the activator. Further provided is a method of determining whether a mammalian cell is hypoxic using the above-described compound where nitroreductase is the activator. A method of detecting a microorganism that comprises a nitroreductase, using the above-described compound where nitroreductase is the activator, is also provided. Also provided is a method of identifying nitroreductase in a sample, using the above-described compound where nitroreductase is the activator.
本文提供了一种包含以下结构的化合物:(SIG)-(SI-MOD)m。在这种化合物中,SIG 是一种信号分子,SI 是一种与 SIG 结合的自惰性结构,因此相对于不含 SI 的 SIG 信号,SIG 信号减弱,MOD 是一种与 SI 结合的、可被活化剂修饰的分子,m 是 1 到 10 之间的整数。使用这种化合物,当 MOD 被激活剂修饰时,SI 会失去稳定性并从 SIG 中自裂解,从而使 SIG 产生更多的信号。还提供了一种利用上述化合物确定样品中是否含有活化剂的方法。还提供了一种利用上述化合物确定细胞是否含有硝基还原酶的方法,其中硝基还原酶是活化剂。进一步提供了一种使用上述化合物(其中硝基还原酶是激活剂)确定哺乳动物细胞是否缺氧的方法。还提供了一种使用硝基还原酶为活化剂的上述化合物检测包含硝基还原酶的微
生物的方法。还提供了一种利用硝基还原酶为活化剂的上述化合物鉴定样品中硝基还原酶的方法。