Zinc binding compounds and their method of use

• US 20050250214A1
• Filed: 05/05/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Molecular Probes Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molecular Probes Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gee, Kyle R.
• Application Number:
  US10/840,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20050250214A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/84
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 311/82 Xanthenes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/22 using chemical indicators G01N31/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5308 for analytes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. nucleic acids, uric acid, worms, mites
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6872 Intracellular protein regulatory factors and their receptors, e.g. including ion channels

Abstract

The present invention provides a metal chelator and methods that facilitate binding, detecting, monitoring and quantitating of zinc ions in a sample. The metal chelating moiety of the zinc-binding compound is an analog of the well-known calcium chelator, BAPTA (1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′N′-tetraacetic acid), wherein the chelating moiety has been modified from a tetraacetic acid moiety to a tri- di- or monoacetic moiety. This change in acetic acid groups on the metal chelating moiety results in the selective bindings of zinc ions in the presence of calcium ions, both of which are present in biological fluids and intracellular cytosolic fluid and organelles.

Claims

1. A compound having the formula:

wherein R_X, R_Y, R_X′ and

R_Y″

is hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl or —

CH₂CO₂R, wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃ with the proviso that at least one of R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or said alkyl;

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁ to C₆ alkyl (CH₂), methoxy (—

OCH₃), hydroxyl (—

OH), C₂-C₆ alkoxy (—

OCH₂), alicyclic, heteroalicyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, amino (—

NR′

R″

), aldehyde, carboxyl, azido, nitro, nitroso, cyano, thioether, sulfinyl, reactive group, carrier molecule, solid support and reporter molecule;

or any two adjacent R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ substituents, form a fused reporter group;

wherein R′ and

R″

are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted alkyl, C₁-C₆ carboxyalkyl (—

(CH)_1-6COOR), an alpha-acyloxyalkyl, a biologically compatible salt, aryl, substituted aryl, aryl alkyl, substituted aryl alkyl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl;

wherein R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹ and R¹² are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, reactive group, carrier molecule, solid support and reactive molecule, or adjacent substituents R⁹ and R¹⁰ or R¹¹ and R¹² in combination constitute a 5-membered or 6-membered alicyclic or heterocyclic ring; and

,

with the proviso that when said R³ or R⁶ is attached to a reporter molecule by a single covalent bond the reporter molecule is not 2,7-difluoro-3-hydroxyxanthen-6-one.

2. The compound according to claim 1, wherein exactly one of said R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl.

3. The compound according to claim 2, wherein exactly one of said R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen and the remaining R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

are —

CH₂CO₂R wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

4. The compound according to claim 3, wherein said R is H or a salt ion.

5. The compound according to claim 3, wherein said R is CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

6. The compound according to claim 3, wherein at least one of R¹-R⁸ is a reporter molecule.

7. The compound according to claim 6, wherein said reporter molecule is a xanthene dye selected from the group consisting of fluorescein or derivative thereof, rhodamine or derivative thereof, rhodol or derivative thereof or rosamine or a derivative thereof.

8. The compound according to claim 1, wherein said reactive group, solid support and carrier molecule comprise a linker that is a single covalent bond, or a covalent linkage that is linear or branched, cyclic or heterocyclic, saturated or unsaturated, having 1-20 nonhydrogen atoms selected from the group consisting of C, N, P, O and S;

and are composed of any combination of ether, thioether, amine, ester, carboxamide, sulfonamide, hydrazide bonds and aromatic or heteroaromatic bonds.

9. The compound according to claim 8, wherein said reactive group is selected from the group consisting of an acrylamide, an activated ester of a carboxylic acid, a carboxylic ester, an acyl azide, an acyl nitrile, an aldehyde, an alkyl halide, an anhydride, an aniline, an amine, an aryl halide, an azide, an aziridine, a boronate, a diazoalkane, a haloacetamide, a halotriazine, a hydrazine, an imido ester, an isocyanate, an isothiocyanate, a maleimide, a phosphoramidite, a reactive platinum complex, a silyl halide, a sulfonyl halide, a thiol and a photoactivatable group.

10. The compound according to claim 9, wherein said reactive group is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, succinimidyl ester of a carboxylic acid, hydrazide, amine and a maleimide.

11. The compound according to claim 8, wherein said carrier molecule is selected from the group consisting of an amino acid, a peptide, a protein, a polysaccharide, a nucleoside, a nucleotide, an oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid, a hapten, a psoralen, a drug, a hormone, a lipid, a lipid assembly, a synthetic polymer, a polymeric microparticle, a biological cell or a virus.

12. The compound according to claim 11, wherein said carrier molecule is selected from the group consisting of an antibody or fragment thereof, an avidin or streptavidin, a biotin, a dextran, an IgG binding protein, a fluorescent protein, agarose, and a non-biological microparticle.

13. The compound according to claim 8, wherein said solid support is selected from the group consisting of a microfluidic chip, a silicon chip, a microscope slide, a microplate well, silica gels, polymeric membranes, particles, derivatized plastic films, glass beads, cotton, plastic beads, alumina gels, polysaccharides, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, latex bead, magnetic bead, paramagnetic bead, and superparamagnetic bead.

14. The compound according to claim 13, wherein said solid support is selected from the group consisting of Sepharose, poly(acrylate), polystyrene, poly(acrylamide), polyol, agarose, agar, cellulose, dextran, starch, FICOLL, heparin, glycogen, amylopectin, mannan, inulin, nitrocellulose, diazocellulose and starch.

15. The compound according to claim 1, wherein said reporter molecule is a chromophore, fluorophore, fluorescent protein, phosphorescent dye or a tandem dye.

16. The compound according to claim 15, wherein said reporter molecule comprise a linker that is a single covalent bond, or a covalent linkage that is linear or branched, cyclic or heterocyclic, saturated or unsaturated, having 1-20 nonhydrogen atoms selected from the group consisting of C, N, P, O and S;

and are composed of any combination of ether, thioether, amine, ester, carboxamide, sulfonamide, hydrazide bonds and aromatic or heteroaromatic bonds.

17. The compound according to claim 15, wherein said reporter molecule comprises ring A or ring B of said compound.

18. The compound according to claim 15, wherein said reporter molecule is a fluorophore selected from the group consisting of dansyl, xanthene, cyanine, borapolyazaindacene, pyrene, naphthalene, coumarin, oxazine, benzofuran, quinazolinone, indole, benzazole or derivatives thereof.

19. The compound according to claim 18, wherein said fluorophore is independently substituted by substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, amino, substituted amino, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkoxy, sulfo, reactive group and carrier molecule.

20. The compound according to claim 19, wherein at least one of R¹-R⁸ is a reporter molecule.

21. The compound according to claim 20, wherein R³ or R⁶ is a reporter molecule.

22. The compound according to claim 21, wherein said reporter molecule is a xanthene dye selected from the group consisting of fluorescein or derivative thereof, rhodamine or derivative thereof, rhodol or derivative thereof and rosamine or a derivative thereof.

23. The compound according to claim 22, wherein said reporter molecule is a 3-aminoxanthene-6-imine.

24. The compound according to claim 23, wherein said compound is

and a biologically compatible anion.

25. A compound having the formula:

wherein R_X, R_Y, R_X′ and

R_Y″

is hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl or —

CH₂CO₂R, wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃ with the proviso that at least one of R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or said alkyl;

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁ to C₆ alkyl (CH₂), methoxy (—

OCH₃), hydroxyl (—

OH), C₂-C₆ alkoxy (—

OCH₂), alicyclic, heteroalicyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, amino (—

NR′

R″

), aldehyde, carboxyl, azido, nitro, nitroso, cyano, thioether, sulfinyl, reactive group, carrier molecule, solid support and reporter molecule;

or

any two adjacent R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ substituents, form a fused reporter group;

wherein R′ and

R″

are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C—

C₆ alkyl, substituted alkyl, C₁-C₆ carboxyalkyl (—

(CH)_1-6COOR), an alpha-acyloxyalkyl, a biologically compatible salt, aryl, substituted aryl, aryl alkyl, substituted aryl alkyl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl;

wherein R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹ and R¹² are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, reactive group, carrier molecule, solid support and reactive molecule, or adjacent substituents R⁹ and R¹⁰ or R¹¹ and R¹² in combination constitute a 5-membered or 6-membered alicyclic or heterocyclic ring; and

,

with the proviso that at least one of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹ and R¹² is a reporter molecule or any two adjacent R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, and R⁸ substituents form a fused reporter molecule and with a further proviso that when said R³ or R⁶ is attached to a reporter molecule by a single covalent bond the reporter molecule is not 2,7-difluoro-3-hydroxyxanthen-6-one.

26. The compound according to claim 25, wherein said reporter molecule is a chromophore, fluorophore, fluorescent protein, phosphorescent dye or a tandem dye.

27. The compound according to claim 26, wherein said reporter molecule is a fluorophore selected from the group consisting of dansyl, xanthene, cyanine, borapolyazaindacene, pyrene, naphthalene, coumarin, oxazine, benzofuran, quinazolinone, indole, benzazole or derivatives thereof.

28. The compound according to claim 27, wherein said fluorophore is independently substituted by substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, amino, substituted amino, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkoxy, sulfo, reactive group and carrier molecule.

29. The compound according to claim 26, wherein exactly one of said R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl.

30. The compound according to claim 29, wherein exactly one of said R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen and the remaining R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_YΔ

are —

CH₂CO₂R wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

31. The compound according to claim 30, wherein at least one of R¹-R⁸ is a reporter molecule.

32. The compound according to claim 31, wherein said reporter molecule is fluorophore that is a xanthene dye selected from the group consisting of fluorescein or derivative thereof, rhodamine or derivative thereof, rhodol or derivative thereof or rosamine or a derivative thereof.

33. The compound according to claim 32, wherein said R is H or a salt ion.

34. The compound according to claim 32, wherein said R is CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

35. The compound according to claim 34, wherein said fluorophore is a cationic dye.

36. The compound according to claim 35, wherein said cationic dye is a xanthylium fluorophore.

37. The compound according to claim 36, wherein said compound is

with a biologically compatible anion, wherein R is CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

38. A composition comprising a metal ion selected from the group consisting of Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Ca²⁺ and a compound according to the formula:

wherein R_X, R_Y, R_X′ and

R_Y″

is hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl or —

CH₂CO₂R, wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃ with the proviso that at least one of R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or said alkyl;

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁ to C₆ alkyl (CH₂), methoxy (—

OCH₃), hydroxyl (—

OH), C₂-C₆ alkoxy (—

OCH₂), alicyclic, heteroalicyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, amino (—

NR′

R″

), aldehyde, carboxyl, azido, nitro, nitroso, cyano, thioether, sulfinyl, reactive group, carrier molecule, solid support and reporter molecule;

or any two adjacent R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ substituents, form a fused reporter group;

wherein R′ and

R″

are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted alkyl, C₁-C₆ carboxyalkyl (—

(CH)_1-6COOR), an alpha-acyloxyalkyl, a biologically compatible salt, aryl, substituted aryl, aryl alkyl, substituted aryl alkyl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl;

wherein R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹ and R¹² are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, reactive group, carrier molecule, solid support and reactive molecule, or adjacent substituents R⁹ and R¹⁰ or R¹¹ and R¹² in combination constitute a 5-membered or 6-membered alicyclic or heterocyclic ring; and

,

with the proviso that when said R³ or R⁶ is attached to a reporter molecule by a single covalent bond the reporter molecule is not 2,7-difluoro-3-hydroxyxanthen-6-one.

39. The composition according to claim 38, wherein said metal ion is Zn²⁺.

40. The composition according to claim 39, wherein exactly one of said R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl.

41. The composition according to claim 40, wherein exactly one of said R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen and the remaining R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

are —

CH₂CO₂R wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

42. The composition according to claim 41, wherein said R is H or a salt ion.

43. The composition according to claim 41, wherein said R is CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

44. The composition according to claim 41, wherein at least one of R¹-R⁸ is a reporter molecule.

45. The composition according to claim 44, wherein said reporter molecule is a xanthene dye selected from the group consisting of fluorescein or derivative thereof, rhodamine or derivative thereof, rhodol or derivative thereof or rosamine or a derivative thereof.

46. The composition according to claim 38, wherein said reactive group, solid support and carrier molecule comprise a linker that is a single covalent bond, or a covalent linkage that is linear or branched, cyclic or heterocyclic, saturated or unsaturated, having 1-20 nonhydrogen atoms selected from the group consisting of C, N, P, O and S;

and are composed of any combination of ether, thioether, amine, ester, carboxamide, sulfonamide, hydrazide bonds and aromatic or heteroaromatic bonds.

47. The composition according to claim 46, wherein said reactive group is selected from the group consisting of an acrylamide, an activated ester of a carboxylic acid, a carboxylic ester, an acyl azide, an acyl nitrile, an aldehyde, an alkyl halide, an anhydride, an aniline, an amine, an aryl halide, an azide, an aziridine, a boronate, a diazoalkane, a haloacetamide, a halotriazine, a hydrazine, an imido ester, an isocyanate, an isothiocyanate, a maleimide, a phosphoramidite, a reactive platinum complex, a silyl halide, a sulfonyl halide, a thiol and a photoactivatable group.

48. The composition according to claim 47, wherein said reactive group is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, succinimidyl ester of a carboxylic acid, hydrazide, amine and a maleimide.

49. The composition according to claim 46, wherein said carrier molecule is selected from the group consisting of an amino acid, a peptide, a protein, a polysaccharide, a nucleoside, a nucleotide, an oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid, a hapten, a psoralen, a drug, a hormone, a lipid, a lipid assembly, a synthetic polymer, a polymeric microparticle, a biological cell or a virus.

50. The composition according to claim 49, wherein said carrier molecule is selected from the group consisting of an antibody or fragment thereof, an avidin or streptavidin, a biotin, a dextran, an IgG binding protein, a fluorescent protein, agarose, and a non-biological microparticle.

51. The composition according to claim 46, wherein said solid support is selected from the group consisting of a microfluidic chip, a silicon chip, a microscope slide, a microplate well, silica gels, polymeric membranes, particles, derivatized plastic films, glass beads, cotton, plastic beads, alumina gels, polysaccharides, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, latex bead, magnetic bead, paramagnetic bead, and superparamagnetic bead.

52. The composition according to claim 51, wherein said solid support is selected from the group consisting of Sepharose, poly(acrylate), polystyrene, poly(acrylamide), polyol, agarose, agar, cellulose, dextran, starch, FICOLL, heparin, glycogen, amylopectin, mannan, inulin, nitrocellulose, diazocellulose and starch.

53. The composition according to claim 38, wherein said reporter molecule is a chromophore, fluorophore, fluorescent protein, phosphorescent dye or a tandem dye.

54. The composition according to claim 53, wherein said reporter molecule comprise a linker that is a single covalent bond, or a covalent linkage that is linear or branched, cyclic or heterocyclic, saturated or unsaturated, having 1-20 nonhydrogen atoms selected from the group consisting of C, N, P, O and S;

and are composed of any combination of ether, thioether, amine, ester, carboxamide, sulfonamide, hydrazide bonds and aromatic or heteroaromatic bonds.

55. The composition according to claim 53, wherein said reporter molecule comprises ring A or ring B of said compound.

56. The composition according to claim 53, wherein said reporter molecule is a fluorophore selected from the group consisting of dansyl, xanthene, cyanine, borapolyazaindacene, pyrene, naphthalene, coumarin, oxazine, benzofuran, quinazolinone, indole, benzazole or derivatives thereof.

57. The composition according to claim 56, wherein said fluorophore is independently substituted by substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, amino, substituted amino, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkoxy, sulfo, reactive group and carrier molecule.

58. The composition according to claim 56, wherein at least one of R¹-R⁸ is a reporter molecule.

59. The composition according to claim 58, wherein R³ or R⁶ is a reporter molecule.

60. The composition according to claim 58, wherein said reporter molecule is a xanthene dye selected from the group consisting of fluorescein or derivative thereof, rhodamine or derivative thereof, rhodol or derivative thereof and rosamine or a derivative thereof.

61. The composition according to claim 60, wherein said reporter molecule is a 3-aminoxanthene-6-imine.

62. A method for binding zinc ions in a sample wherein said method comprises combining compounds according to the formula:

wherein R_X, R_Y, R_X′ and

R_Y″

is hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl or —

CH₂CO₂R, wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃ with the proviso that at least one of R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or said alkyl;

wherein R_X, R_Y, R_X′ and

R_Y″

is hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl or —

CH₂CO₂R, wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃ with the proviso that at least one of R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or said alkyl;

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C, to C₆ alkyl (CH₂), methoxy (—

OCH₃), hydroxyl (—

OH), C₂-C₆ alkoxy (—

OCH₂), alicyclic, heteroalicyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, amino (—

NR′

R″

), aldehyde, carboxyl, azido, nitro, nitroso, cyano, thioether, sulfinyl, reactive group, carrier molecule, solid support and reporter molecule;

or

any two adjacent R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ substituents, form a fused reporter group;

wherein R′ and

R″

are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted alkyl, C₁-C₆ carboxyalkyl (—

(CH)_1-6COOR), an alpha-acyloxyalkyl, a biologically compatible salt, aryl, substituted aryl, aryl alkyl, substituted aryl alkyl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl;

wherein R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹ and R¹² are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, reactive group, carrier molecule, solid support and reactive molecule, or adjacent substituents R⁹ and R¹⁰ or R¹¹ and R¹² in combination constitute a 5-membered or 6-membered alicyclic or heterocyclic ring; and

,

with the proviso that when said R³ or R⁶ is attached to a reporter molecule by a single covalent bond the reporter molecule is not 2,7-difluoro-3-hydroxyxanthen-6-one;

with a sample for a sufficient amount of time to allow said compound to bind zinc ions whereby zinc ions are bound.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein said sample comprises live cells, intracellular fluids, extracellular fluids, biological fluids, biological fermentation media, environmental sample, industrial samples or chemical reactors.

64. The method according to claim 63, wherein said sample comprises blood cells, immune cells, cultured cells, muscle tissue, neurons, extracellular vesicles;

vascular tissue, blood fluids, saliva, urine;

water, soil, waste water, sea water;

pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs or beverages.

65. The method according to claim 63, wherein exactly one of said R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl.

66. The method according to claim 65, wherein exactly one of said R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen and the remaining R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

are —

CH₂CO₂R wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

67. The method according to claim 66, wherein said R is H or a salt ion.

68. The method according to claim 66, wherein said R is CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

69. The method according to claim 66, wherein at least one of R¹-R⁸ is a reporter molecule.

70. The method according to claim 69, wherein said reporter molecule is a xanthene dye selected from the group consisting of fluorescein or derivative thereof, rhodamine or derivative thereof, rhodol or derivative thereof or rosamine or a derivative thereof.

71. The method according to claim 63, wherein said reactive group, solid support and carrier molecule comprise a linker that is a single covalent bond, or a covalent linkage that is linear or branched, cyclic or heterocyclic, saturated or unsaturated, having 1-20 nonhydrogen atoms selected from the group consisting of C, N, P, O and S;

and are composed of any combination of ether, thioether, amine, ester, carboxamide, sulfonamide, hydrazide bonds and aromatic or heteroaromatic bonds.

72. The method according to claim 71, wherein said reactive group is selected from the group consisting of an acrylamide, an activated ester of a carboxylic acid, a carboxylic ester, an acyl azide, an acyl nitrile, an aldehyde, an alkyl halide, an anhydride, an aniline, an amine, an aryl halide, an azide, an aziridine, a boronate, a diazoalkane, a haloacetamide, a halotriazine, a hydrazine, an imido ester, an isocyanate, an isothiocyanate, a maleimide, a phosphoramidite, a reactive platinum complex, a silyl halide, a sulfonyl halide, a thiol and a photoactivatable group.

73. The method according to claim 72, wherein said reactive group is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, succinimidyl ester of a carboxylic acid, hydrazide, amine and a maleimide.

74. The method according to claim 71, wherein said carrier molecule is selected from the group consisting of an amino acid, a peptide, a protein, a polysaccharide, a nucleoside, a nucleotide, an oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid, a hapten, a psoralen, a drug, a hormone, a lipid, a lipid assembly, a synthetic polymer, a polymeric microparticle, a biological cell or a virus.

75. The method according to claim 74, wherein said carrier molecule is selected from the group consisting of an antibody or fragment thereof, an avidin or streptavidin, a biotin, a dextran, an IgG binding protein, a fluorescent protein, agarose, and a non-biological microparticle.

76. The method according to claim 71, wherein said solid support is selected from the group consisting of a microfluidic chip, a silicon chip, a microscope slide, a microplate well, silica gels, polymeric membranes, particles, derivatized plastic films, glass beads, cotton, plastic beads, alumina gels, polysaccharides, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, latex bead, magnetic bead, paramagnetic bead, and superparamagnetic bead.

77. The method according to claim 76, wherein said solid support is selected from the group consisting of Sepharose, poly(acrylate), polystyrene, poly(acrylamide), polyol, agarose, agar, cellulose, dextran, starch, FICOLL, heparin, glycogen, amylopectin, mannan, inulin, nitrocellulose, diazocellulose and starch.

78. The method according to claim 63, wherein said reporter molecule is a chromophore, fluorophore, fluorescent protein, phosphorescent dye or a tandem dye.

79. The method according to claim 78, wherein said reporter molecule comprise a linker that is a single covalent bond, or a covalent linkage that is linear or branched, cyclic or heterocyclic, saturated or unsaturated, having 1-20 nonhydrogen atoms selected from the group consisting of C, N, P, O and S;

and are composed of any combination of ether, thioether, amine, ester, carboxamide, sulfonamide, hydrazide bonds and aromatic or heteroaromatic bonds.

80. The method according to claim 78, wherein said reporter molecule comprises ring A or ring B of said compound.

81. The method according to claim 78, wherein said reporter molecule is a fluorophore selected from the group consisting of dansyl, xanthene, cyanine, borapolyazaindacene, pyrene, naphthalene, coumarin, oxazine, benzofuran, quinazolinone, indole, benzazole or derivatives thereof.

82. The method according to claim 81, wherein said fluorophore is independently substituted by substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, amino, substituted amino, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkoxy, sulfo, reactive group and carrier molecule.

83. The method according to claim 81, wherein at least one of R¹-R⁸ is a reporter molecule.

84. The method according to claim 83, wherein R³ or R⁶ is a reporter molecule.

85. The method according to claim 83, wherein said reporter molecule is a xanthene dye selected from the group consisting of fluorescein or derivative thereof, rhodamine or derivative thereof, rhodol or derivative thereof and rosamine or a derivative thereof.

86. The method according to claim 85, wherein said reporter molecule is a 3-aminoxanthene-6-imine.

87. A method for detecting zinc ions in a sample wherein said method comprises;

a) combining compounds according to the formula;

wherein R_X, R_Y, R_X′ and

R_Y″

is hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl or —

CH₂CO₂R, wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃ with the proviso that at least one of R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or said alkyl;

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁ to C₆ alkyl (CH₂), methoxy (—

OCH₃), hydroxyl (—

OH), C₂-C₆ alkoxy (—

OCH₂), alicyclic, heteroalicyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, amino (—

NR′

R″

), aldehyde, carboxyl, azido, nitro, nitroso, cyano, thioether, sulfinyl, reactive group, carrier molecule, solid support and reporter molecule;

or any two adjacent R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ substituents, form a fused reporter group;

wherein R′ and

R″

are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted alkyl, C₁-C₆ carboxyalkyl (—

(CH)_1-6COOR), an alpha-acyloxyalkyl, a biologically compatible salt, aryl, substituted aryl, aryl alkyl, substituted aryl alkyl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl;

wherein R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹ and R¹² are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, reactive group, carrier molecule, solid support and reactive molecule, or adjacent substituents R⁹ and R¹⁰ or R¹¹ and R¹² in combination constitute a 5-membered or 6-membered alicyclic or heterocyclic ring; and

,

with the proviso that at least one of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹ and R¹² is a reporter molecule or any two adjacent R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, and R⁸ substituents form a fused reporter molecule and with a further proviso that when said R³ or R⁶ is attached to a reporter molecule by a single covalent bond the reporter molecule is not 2,7-difluoro-3-hydroxyxanthen-6-one;

with a sample for a sufficient amount of time to allow said compound to bind zinc ions; and

,

b) illuminating said sample with an appropriate wavelength whereby zinc ions are detected.

88. The method according to claim 87, wherein said sample comprises live cells, intracellular fluids, extracellular fluids, biological fluids, biological fermentation media, environmental sample, industrial samples or chemical reactors.

89. The method according to claim 88, wherein said sample comprises blood cells, immune cells, cultured cells, muscle tissue, neurons, extracellular vesicles;

vascular tissue, blood fluids, saliva, urine;

water, soil, waste water, sea water;

pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs or beverages.

90. The method according to claim 88, wherein said reporter molecule is a chromophore, fluorophore, fluorescent protein, phosphorescent dye or a tandem dye.

91. The method according to claim 90, wherein said reporter molecule is a fluorophore selected from the group consisting of dansyl, xanthene, cyanine, borapolyazaindacene, pyrene, naphthalene, coumarin, oxazine, benzofuran, quinazolinone, indole, benzazole or derivatives thereof.

92. The method according to claim 91, wherein said fluorophore is independently substituted by substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, amino, substituted amino, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkoxy, sulfo, reactive group and carrier molecule.

93. The method according to claim 91, wherein exactly one of said R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl.

94. The method according to claim 93, wherein exactly one of said R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen and the remaining R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

are —

CH₂CO₂R wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

95. The method according to claim 94, wherein at least one of R¹-R⁸ is a reporter molecule.

96. The method according to claim 95, wherein said reporter molecule is fluorophore that is a xanthene dye selected from the group consisting of fluorescein or derivative thereof, rhodamine or derivative thereof, rhodol or derivative thereof or rosamine or a derivative thereof.

97. The method according to claim 96, wherein said R is H or a salt ion.

98. The method according to claim 96, wherein said R is CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

99. The method according to claim 98, wherein said fluorophore is a cationic dye.

100. The method according to claim 99, wherein said cationic dye is a xanthylium fluorophore.

101. The method according to claim 90, wherein said reactive group, solid support, carrier molecule and optionally said reporter molecule comprise a linker that is a single covalent bond, or a covalent linkage that is linear or branched, cyclic or heterocyclic, saturated or unsaturated, having 1-20 nonhydrogen atoms selected from the group consisting of C, N, P, O and S;

and are composed of any combination of ether, thioether, amine, ester, carboxamide, sulfonamide, hydrazide bonds and aromatic or heteroaromatic bonds.

102. The method according to claim 101, wherein said reactive group is selected from the group consisting of an acrylamide, an activated ester of a carboxylic acid, a carboxylic ester, an acyl azide, an acyl nitrile, an aldehyde, an alkyl halide, an anhydride, an aniline, an amine, an aryl halide, an azide, an aziridine, a boronate, a diazoalkane, a haloacetamide, a halotriazine, a hydrazine, an imido ester, an isocyanate, an isothiocyanate, a maleimide, a phosphoramidite, a reactive platinum complex, a silyl halide, a sulfonyl halide, a thiol and a photoactivatable group.

103. The method according to claim 102, wherein said reactive group is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, succinimidyl ester of a carboxylic acid, hydrazide, amine and a maleimide.

104. The method according to claim 101, wherein said carrier molecule is selected from the group consisting of an amino acid, a peptide, a protein, a polysaccharide, a nucleoside, a nucleotide, an oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid, a hapten, a psoralen, a drug, a hormone, a lipid, a lipid assembly, a synthetic polymer, a polymeric microparticle, a biological cell or a virus.

105. The method according to claim 104, wherein said carrier molecule is selected from the group consisting of an antibody or fragment thereof, an avidin or streptavidin, a biotin, a dextran, an IgG binding protein, a fluorescent protein, agarose, and a non-biological microparticle.

106. The method according to claim 101, wherein said solid support is selected from the group consisting of a microfluidic chip, a silicon chip, a microscope slide, a microplate well, silica gels, polymeric membranes, particles, derivatized plastic films, glass beads, cotton, plastic beads, alumina gels, polysaccharides, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, latex bead, magnetic bead, paramagnetic bead, and superparamagnetic bead.

107. The method according to claim 106, wherein said solid support is selected from the group consisting of Sepharose, poly(acrylate), polystyrene, poly(acrylamide), polyol, agarose, agar, cellulose, dextran, starch, FICOLL, heparin, glycogen, amylopectin, mannan, inulin, nitrocellulose, diazocellulose and starch.

108. The method according to claim 106, wherein said method further comprises screening for drugs that modulate zinc ion concentrations, channels and/or receptors.

109. A kit comprising at least one compound according to the formula:

wherein R_X, R_Y, R_X and R_X″

is hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl or —

CH₂CO₂R, wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃ with the proviso that at least one of R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or said alkyl;

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁ to C₆ alkyl (CH₂), methoxy (—

OCH₃), hydroxyl (—

OH), C₂-C₆ alkoxy (—

OCH₂), alicyclic, heteroalicyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, amino (—

NR′

R″

), aldehyde, carboxyl, azido, nitro, nitroso, cyano, thioether, sulfinyl, reactive group, carrier molecule, solid support and reporter molecule;

or any two adjacent R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ substituents, form a fused reporter group;

wherein R′ and

R″

are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted alkyl, C₁-C₆ carboxyalkyl (—

(CH)_1-6COOR), an alpha-acyloxyalkyl, a biologically compatible salt, aryl, substituted aryl, aryl alkyl, substituted aryl alkyl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl;

wherein R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹ and R¹² are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, reactive group, carrier molecule, solid support and reactive molecule, or adjacent substituents R⁹ and R¹⁰ or R¹¹ and R¹² in combination constitute a 5-membered or 6-membered alicyclic or heterocyclic ring; and

,

with the proviso that when said R³ or R⁶ is attached to a reporter molecule by a single covalent bond the reporter molecule is not 2,7-difluoro-3-hydroxyxanthen-6-one.

110. The kit according to claim 109, wherein said kit independently further comprises;

a buffer, an additional detection reagent, a metal ion calibration reagent, a positive control, a metal ion indicator other than for zinc ions, an antibody or fragment thereof or a reference dye standard.

111. The kit according to claim 109, wherein exactly one of said R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl.

112. The kit according to claim 111, wherein exactly one of said R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

is hydrogen and the remaining R_X, R_Y, R_X′

or R_Y″

are —

CH₂CO₂R wherein R is H, a salt ion or CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

113. The kit according to claim 112, wherein said R is H or a salt ion.

114. The kit according to claim 112, wherein said R is CH₂OC(O)CH₃.

115. The kit according to claim 112, wherein at least one of R¹-R⁸ is a reporter molecule.

116. The kit according to claim 115, wherein said reporter molecule is a xanthene dye selected from the group consisting of fluorescein or derivative thereof, rhodamine or derivative thereof, rhodol or derivative thereof or rosamine or a derivative thereof.

117. The kit according to claim 109, wherein said reactive group, solid support and carrier molecule comprise a linker that is a single covalent bond, or a covalent linkage that is linear or branched, cyclic or heterocyclic, saturated or unsaturated, having 1-20 nonhydrogen atoms selected from the group consisting of C, N, P, O and S;

and are composed of any combination of ether, thioether, amine, ester, carboxamide, sulfonamide, hydrazide bonds and aromatic or heteroaromatic bonds.

118. The kit according to claim 117, wherein said reactive group is selected from the group consisting of an acrylamide, an activated ester of a carboxylic acid, a carboxylic ester, an acyl azide, an acyl nitrile, an aldehyde, an alkyl halide, an anhydride, an aniline, an amine, an aryl halide, an azide, an aziridine, a boronate, a diazoalkane, a haloacetamide, a halotriazine, a hydrazine, an imido ester, an isocyanate, an isothiocyanate, a maleimide, a phosphoramidite, a reactive platinum complex, a silyl halide, a sulfonyl halide, a thiol and a photoactivatable group.

119. The kit according to claim 118, wherein said reactive group is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, succinimidyl ester of a carboxylic acid, hydrazide, amine and a maleimide.

120. The kit according to claim 117, wherein said carrier molecule is selected from the group consisting of an amino acid, a peptide, a protein, a polysaccharide, a nucleoside, a nucleotide, an oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid, a hapten, a psoralen, a drug, a hormone, a lipid, a lipid assembly, a synthetic polymer, a polymeric microparticle, a biological cell or a virus.

121. The kit according to claim 120, wherein said carrier molecule is selected from the group consisting of an antibody or fragment thereof, an avidin or streptavidin, a biotin, a dextran, an IgG binding protein, a fluorescent protein, agarose, and a non-biological microparticle.

122. The kit according to claim 117, wherein said solid support is selected from the group consisting of a microfluidic chip, a silicon chip, a microscope slide, a microplate well, silica gels, polymeric membranes, particles, derivatized plastic films, glass beads, cotton, plastic beads, alumina gels, polysaccharides, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, latex bead, magnetic bead, paramagnetic bead, and superparamagnetic bead.

123. The kit according to claim 122, wherein said solid support is selected from the group consisting of Sepharose, poly(acrylate), polystyrene, poly(acrylamide), polyol, agarose, agar, cellulose, dextran, starch, FICOLL, heparin, glycogen, amylopectin, mannan, inulin, nitrocellulose, diazocellulose and starch.

124. The kit according to claim 109, wherein said reporter molecule is a chromophore, fluorophore, fluorescent protein, phosphorescent dye or a tandem dye.

125. The kit according to claim 124, wherein said reporter molecule comprise a linker that is a single covalent bond, or a covalent linkage that is linear or branched, cyclic or heterocyclic, saturated or unsaturated, having 1-20 nonhydrogen atoms selected from the group consisting of C, N, P, O and S;

and are composed of any combination of ether, thioether, amine, ester, carboxamide, sulfonamide, hydrazide bonds and aromatic or heteroaromatic bonds.

126. The kit according to claim 124, wherein said reporter molecule comprises ring A or ring B of said compound.

127. The kit according to claim 124, wherein said reporter molecule is a fluorophore selected from the group consisting of dansyl, xanthene, cyanine, borapolyazaindacene, pyrene, naphthalene, coumarin, oxazine, benzofuran, quinazolinone, indole, benzazole or derivatives thereof.

128. The kit according to claim 127, wherein said fluorophore is independently substituted by substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, amino, substituted amino, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkoxy, sulfo, reactive group and carrier molecule.

129. The kit according to claim 127, wherein at least one of R¹-R⁸ is a reporter molecule.

130. The kit according to claim 129, wherein R³ or R⁶ is a reporter molecule.

131. The kit according to claim 129, wherein said reporter molecule is a xanthene dye selected from the group consisting of fluorescein or derivative thereof, rhodamine or derivative thereof, rhodol or derivative thereof and rosamine or a derivative thereof.

132. The kit according to claim 131, wherein said reporter molecule is a 3-aminoxanthene-6-imine.

133. The kit according to claim 132, wherein said compound is

and a biologically compatible anion.