Development of a Novel Amplifiable System to Quantify Hydrogen Peroxide in Living Cells

Although many redox signaling molecules are present at low concentrations, typically ranging from micromolar to submicromolar levels, they often play essential roles in a wide range of biological pathways and disease mechanisms. However, accurately measuring low-abundant analytes has been a significant challenge due to the lack of sensitivity and quantitative capability of existing measurement methods. In this study, we introduced a novel chemically induced amplifiable system for quantifying low-abundance redox signaling molecules in living cells. We utilized H2O2 as a proof-of-concept analyte and developed a probe that quantifies cellular peroxide levels by combining the NanoBiT system with androgen receptor dimerization as a reporting mechanism. Our system demonstrated a highly sensitive response to cellular peroxide changes induced both endogenously and exogenously. Furthermore, the system can be adapted for the quantification of other signaling molecules if provided with suitable probing chemistry.