A new kind of adenosine-5’-triphosphate(ATP) detecting colorimetric and fluorescence “turn-on” probe based on rhodamine derivatives has developed. When added 5mM ATP, the probe 1 shows distinct enhancement in fluorescence intensity and a color change from colorless to pink. The probe 2 also shows obvious color and fluorescence change with the presence of ATP.
This kind of probe has highly specificity for ATP compared to other anions, metal ions, and other nucleoside polyphosphates, except ADP. The pH independent (pH (4.0 to 7.4)) spirolactam ring-opening caused enhanced emission and naked eye changes. Our results show that the electron withdrawing group in the chain decreases binding ability to ATP. The live cell image of probe 2 in Hela cells indicates that the probe has cell permeability and mainly locates to mitochondria.