FULL PAPER
Abstract: By using the luminescence
from binuclear complexes of TbIII (Tb2-
L1 and Tb2-L2), phosphorylated Tyr res-
idue in peptides was selectively detect-
ed in neutral aqueous solutions. Nei-
ther the non-phosphorylated Tyr, pSer,
pThr, nor the other phosphate-contain-
ing biomolecules tested affected the lu-
minescence intensity to any notable
extent. Upon the binding of the pTyr
to these TbIII complexes, the lumines-
cence from the metal ion was notably
promoted, as the light energy absorbed
by the benzene ring of pTyr is efficient-
ly transferred to the TbIII center. The
binding activity of the binuclear TbIII
complexes towards pTyr is two orders
of magnitude larger than that of the
corresponding mononuclear complex.
These binuclear complexes were suc-
cessfully used for real-time monitoring
of enzymatic phosphorylation of a pep-
tide by a tyrosine kinase.
Keywords: kinases · lanthanides ·
luminescence · phosphorylation ·
tyrosine
Introduction
very weak (the f–f transitions of the ions are Laporte-forbid-
den). By combining lanthanide complexes and antenna mol-
ecules, elegant systems to detect various anion guests have
already been prepared.[7–12] A sophisticated example in-
cludes the analysis of benzoic acid derivatives using the an-
tenna effect.[8] Phosphate-containing molecules were detect-
ed by attaching an antenna to lanthanide complexes. The
binding of the phosphate group(s) of the guest molecule in-
Phosphorylation of proteins controls many cellular events.
In the course of signal transduction, Ser, Thr, and Tyr resi-
dues in proteins are reversibly phosphorylated and dephos-
phorylated.[1] Although Tyr phosphorylation accounts for
only 0.05% of the total phosphorylation in cells (the majori-
ty occurs on Ser or Thr), it takes a crucial role in biological
functions.[2] For example, the autophosphorylation of a Tyr
in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) triggers the
signal-cascade inside the cell.[3] In the downstream of this
kinase, there are Src family kinases, which are also con-
trolled by Tyr phosphorylation and in turn phosphorylate
Tyr residues in other proteins.[4] Excessive or insufficient Tyr
phosphorylation causes serious problems.[1,2] Thus, selective
detection of phosphorylated Tyr (pTyr) in proteins, with
minimized signals from phosphoserine (pSer) or phospho-
threonine (pThr), which exist more abundantly in biological
systems, is quite important. Several metal complexes have
been already reported to detect phosphorylation of pro-
teins.[5,6] However, although these complexes recognize the
phosphate groups of specimens,
duces environmental changes around the lanthanideACHTUNGTRENNUNG(III) ion
and alters the luminescence from the ion.[10–13] However, se-
lective detection of pTyr is difficult with this strategy, as co-
existing molecules that also have phosphate groups (e.g.,
pSer, pThr, ATP, and DNA) could show similar effects as
pTyr. These factors are more critical if a TbIII ion (without
any ligand) is used; nucleotides and nucleic acids show enor-
mous antenna effects.[14,15] To obtain the signal from pTyr
precisely, these background signals must be reduced.
Herein, we report binuclear TbIII complexes (Tb2-L1 and
Tb2-L2), which selectively detect pTyr with respect to i) non-
phosphorylated Tyr, ii) pSer and pThr, and iii) other coexist-
ing phosphate-containing biomolecules. We have previously
they barely discriminate pTyr
from any other phosphate-bear-
ing species, such as pSer and
pThr.
Lanthanide ions and their
complexes emit strong lumines-
cence, when
a chromophore
(“antenna”) is placed near
them and transfers its excitation
energy to the metal center.[7] In
the absence of this antenna,
however, the luminescence is
demonstrated by using Tb-DOTAM that the benzene ring
of pTyr in the target peptides can be used as an antenna to
enhance the emission from the TbIII center (see Figure 1).[16]
Of Tyr, Ser, Thr, and their phosphorylated products, only
pTyr possesses both the notable antenna effect (benzene
ring) and sufficient binding activity towards the TbIII com-
plex (phosphate group). Thus, the selectivities (i) and (ii) are
fulfilled. Furthermore, the selectivity (iii) to other coexisting
[a] H. Akiba, Dr. J. Sumaoka, Prof. Dr. M. Komiyama
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology
The University of Tokyo
4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo, 153-8904 (Japan)
Fax : (+81)3-5452-5209
Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW
molecules is accomplished by using
a
bulky ligand
Chem. Eur. J. 2010, 16, 5018 – 5025
ꢀ 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
5019