Fluorescent detection of coenzyme A by analyte-induced aggregation of a cationic conjugated polymer

A new cationic conjugated polymer was designed and synthesized to optically discriminate coenzyme A(CoA) among structurally similar biomolecules, ATP, ADP and AMP. The analyte-induced aggregation of the conjugated polymer by π-stacking between their main chains leads to the fluorescence quenching. Except for the similar adenosine and phosphate moieties as those in ATP, ADP and AMP, the CoA molecule also includes a long side chain that is favorable for hydrophobic interactions. Thus, CoA can form a complex with oppositely charged conjugated polymer by cooperative electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, whereas ATP, ADP and AMP form the complexes with oppositely charged conjugated polymer mainly by electrostatic interactions. The increase of the ion strength of the assay solution screens the electrostatic attractions, and the remaining hydrophobic interactions dominate the formation of PFP-PTF/CoA complex. At this case, the quenching efficiency of PFP-PTF by CoA is much higher than that by ATP, ADP and AMP, which impart the PFP-PTF to sense CoA from these interferencing species.

A new cationic conjugated polymer was designed and synthesized to optically discriminate coenzyme A（CoA） among structurally similar biomolecules, ATP, ADP and AMP. The analyte-induced aggregation of the conjugated polymer by n-stacking between their main chains leads to the fluorescence quenching. Except for the similar adenosine and phosphate moieties as those in ATP, ADP and AMP, the CoA molecule also includes a long side chain that is favorable for hydrophobic interactions. Thus, CoA can form a complex with oppositely charged conjugated polymer by cooperative electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, whereas ATP, ADP and AMP form the complexes with oppositely charged conjugated polymer mainly by electrostatic interactions. The increase of the ion strength of the assay solution screens the electrostatic attractions, and the remaining hydrophobic interactions dominate the formation of PFP-PTF/CoA complex. At this case, the quenching efficiency of PFP-PTF by CoA is much higher than that by ATP, ADP and AMP, which impart the PFP-PTF to sense CoA from these interferencing species.