A High Affinity Fluorescent Catecholamine sensor in cell assays

Inventors at the University of Missouri have developed a fluorescent chemical sensor with high affinity and turn-on response to norepinephrine. The sensor results in punctate staining of norepinephrine-enriched chromaffin cells, and can be used to quantify norepinephrine during exocytosis in live-cell and fixed-cell assays.

Catecholamines, namely epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine are important neurotransmitters in the sympathetic nervous system that exert cardiovascular and metabolic effects by stimulating adrenergic receptors in a variety of cells. Norepinephrine has also been associated with emotions like fear and aggression. Secreted from chrommafin cells, norepinephrine has potential as a clinically significant biomarker for definite disease states as well as for monitoring treatment efficacy. Due to its necessity in physiological functions, norepinephrine has been a prime focus of neuroscience research, making our neurosensor a valuable tool for its quantification.

Applications:
-Norepinephrine imaging
-Norepinephrine quantitation
-Fixed and live cell assays

Advantages:
-High sensitivity and selectivity for Norepinephrine