Fluorescent Probes for the Detection of Ethylene

乙烯是现代社会的一种重要化学物质，其影响范围从塑料和其他化学物质的生产到作为某些水果的主要成熟激素在食品供应链中发挥重要作用。因此，通过仪器和分子识别来检测这种小分子已经付出了巨大的努力。虽然这些努力导致了一些敏感的乙烯检测方法，但在复杂环境中（如植物细胞内）检测乙烯的方法目前还不存在。在这个项目中，丹佛大学的米歇尔教授正在开发新的小分子探针，可以在与乙烯反应时增加荧光。了解探针结构与其在特定环境中的信号特性之间的关系对乙烯的敏感检测至关重要。荧光和变色探针具有独特的能力，可以在不可见的化学过程中产生颜色。这项研究正在发展成为一个综合的讲座-实验室模块，为本科有机学生提供代表性不足的主题的背景。米歇尔教授在当地的高中开展外展示范活动。由于了解和控制乙烯在水果供应链中的愿望，这项研究可能会通过增加对乙烯在成熟过程中的分子作用的理解而对社会产生更广泛的影响；从而防止食物过早变质，减少农业浪费。此外，在这个项目中工作的研究生和本科生是代表性不足的少数民族，由于这个项目的跨学科性质，他们正在获得独特的技能。丹佛大学的米歇尔教授在化学学部化学结构、动力学和机理B项目的资助下，正在开发用于检测乙烯的新型小分子荧光探针。由于乙烯在生命系统的有限条件下相对较小且不活泼，因此正在开发一种基于有机金属的方法，这需要对与金属中心结合的配体与乙烯的化学计量反应性之间的关系有基本的了解。本研究确定了特定应用的最佳探针，例如在相关生物系统（包括拟南芥和大肠杆菌）中检测乙烯。这些生物中乙烯的检测正在研究中，针对这些系统提出的特定目标和挑战，对探针进行了修改。大气中气态乙烯的检测，包括从成熟的水果中检测，也正在研究中。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Ethylene is an important chemicals in modern society, with impacts ranging from the production of plastics and other chemicals to playing a significant role in the food supply chain as the primary ripening hormone of some fruit. As a result, there has been a significant effort to detect this small molecule via instrumentation and with molecular recognition. While these efforts have led to some sensitive approaches for ethylene detection, methods for detecting ethylene in complex environments (such as inside a plant cell) do not currently exist. In this project, Professor Michel of the University of Denver is developing new small molecule probes that increase fluorescence upon reaction with ethylene. An understanding of the relationship between the structure of the probe and its signaling property in a specific environment are critical to the sensitive detection of ethylene. Fluorescent and color-producing probes have the unique ability to produce color within otherwise invisible chemical processes. This research is being developed into an integrated lecture-lab module for undergraduate organic students to provide context to underrepresented topics. Professor Michel develops outreach demonstrations at local high schools. Due to the desire to understand and control ethylene in the fruit supply chain, this research may have a broader impact on society by increasing the understanding of the molecular roles of ethylene in the ripening processes; thereby preventing premature food spoilage and reducing agricultural waste. Further, the graduate and undergraduate students working on this project are underrepresented minorities who are gaining a unique skill set due to the interdisciplinary nature of this project. With funding from the Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanisms B program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Michel of the University of Denver is developing new small molecule fluorescent probes for the detection of ethylene. Due to the relatively small and unreactive nature of ethylene under the confined conditions of living systems, an organometallic-based approach is being developed, which requires a fundamental understanding of the relationship between the ligands bound to the metal center and stoichiometric reactivity with ethylene. This research determines the optimal probes for a particular application, such as the detection of ethylene in relevant biological systems including A. thaliana and E. coli. Detection of ethylene in these organisms is being investigated with probe modifications tailored to the specific goals and challenges presented by these systems. The detection of gaseous ethylene in the atmosphere including from ripening fruit is also being investigated.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.