The present invention relates generally to the detection and measurement of transmembrane potentials using an asymmetric thiobarbituric acid-derived polymethine oxonol (shown below). In particular, the present invention is directed to compositions and optical methods for determining transmembrane potentials across the plasma membrane of biological cells using a moderately hydrophobic asymmetric thiobarbituric acid-derived polymethine oxonols. The method comprises a moderately hydrophobic asymmetric thiobarbituric acid-derived polymethine oxonol anion capable of redistributing from a first face of the membrane to a second face of the membrane in response to changes in the potential of the membrane. In one aspect the method is used to identify compounds which modulate membrane potentials in biological membranes.
wherein R1, R2, and R3 are (a) independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl and heteroalkyl, and (b) R1, R2 and R3 are not simultaneously methyl; n is an integer from 1 to 3; Z is Na, K, ammonium or other biologically acceptable salt.
本发明一般涉及使用不对称
硫代
巴比妥酸衍生的多甲氧羰基
酚(如下图所示)检测和测量跨膜电位。具体而言,本发明涉及使用中等疏
水性不对称
硫代
巴比妥酸衍生多
甲胺氧杂菁确定
生物细胞质膜跨膜电位的组合物和光学方法。该方法包括一种中等疏
水性的不对称
硫代
巴比妥酸衍生的聚
甲胺氧杂菁阴离子,它能够随着膜电位的变化从膜的第一面重新分布到膜的第二面。在一个方面,该方法用于鉴定可调节
生物膜中膜电位的化合物。
其中 R1、R2 和 R3 (a) 独立选自由氢、烷基、卤代烷基和杂烷基组成的组,(b) R1、R2 和 R3 不同时为甲基;n 为 1 至 3 的整数;Z 为 Na、K、
铵或其它
生物可接受的盐。