Photoactivatable fluorescent dyes with hydrophilic caging groups and their use

Abstract

Disclosed are photoactivable fluorescent dye compounds of formula I: wherein: n=0, 1, 2, 3; X is selected from O, CRR′, SiRR′ and GeRR′, where R and R′ represent independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl; Y is H, SO3H or SO3M, with M being a positively charged counterion, in particular selected from NH4+ and cations of organic ammonium compounds; R1 is H, CO2H, C(O)NH-linker-CO2H, C(O)O-ligand, C(O)NH-ligand or C(O)NH-linker-ligand; R2 may represent H, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl (including cycloalkyl); R3 and R4 may represent independently H or F; R5 is H, Me, CO2H, C(O)NH-linker-CO2H, C(O)O-ligand, C(O)NH-ligand or C(O)NH-linker-ligand; wherein the ligand moiety at each occurrence represents a reactive group or tag, capable to form a covalent or non-covalent bond or molecular complex with a target chemical entity or substance. Methods of using the compounds in imaging of fixed and living cells are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.