Biomolecular and supramolecular kinetics in the submicrosecond time range: the fluorazophore approach

Chemphyschem. 2002 May 17;3(5):393-8. doi: 10.1002/1439-7641(20020517)3:5<393::AID-CPHC393>3.0.CO;2-4.

Abstract

Fluorophores based on the azo chromophore 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene, referred to as fluorazophores, display an exceedingly long fluorescence lifetime and undergo quenching upon contact with efficient hydrogen or electron donors. These photophysical and photochemical properties allow several uncommon applications to biomolecular and supramolecular kinetic studies in the submicrosecond time range. Examples for kinetics of host-guest complexation, end-to-end contact formation in polypeptides, and lateral diffusion in membrane models are described. Principal requirements for these types of kinetic measurements and the dependence of the kinetics of diffusion-controlled reactions on the dimensionality of the system are discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / chemistry*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Protein Conformation

Substances

  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Peptides
  • fluorazophore-P