Phosphorescent thymidine triphosphate sensor based on a donor-acceptor ensemble system using intermolecular energy transfer.

An ensemble sensor system that exhibited selective luminescence enhancement upon binding to thymidine 5'-triphosphate (TTP) in HEPES buffer over other nucleotides was developed. The ensemble system consisted of an energy acceptor (FIrpic-bis(Zn2+-dipicolylamine conjugate, FIrpic=bis[(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C2+]picolinate) derivative) and an energy donor (mCP-Zn2+-cyclen, mCP=N,N'-dicarbazolyl-3,5-benzene). Among the nucleotides, the selective recognition and luminescence enhancement for TTP was achieved by the strong binding of the thymine unit to Zn2+-cyclen (cyclen=1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) and intermolecular energy transfer between the mCP and FIrpic moieties.