BODIPY-Based Fluorescent Probe for Peroxynitrite Detection and Imaging in Living Cells

A fluorescent probe, HKGreen-2, has been developed based on a specific reaction between ketone and peroxynitrite (ONOO−). This probe is highly sensitive and selective for the detection of peroxynitrite not only in abiotic but also in biological systems. With this probe, we successfully detected peroxynitrite generated in murine macrophage cells activated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This new probe will be a useful tool for studying the roles of peroxynitrite in biological processes.