Method of fluorescent detection of nucleic acids and cytoskeleton elements using bis-dicationic aryl furans

A method for the selective fluorescent detection of DNA in a nucleic acid mixture containing DNA and RNA, said method comprising:

• (a) contacting said nucleic acid mixture with a compound according to Formula (II) ##STR40## wherein:
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, or alkylaminoalkyl, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together represent a C.sub.2 to C.sub.10 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkylene or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together are:
• ##STR41## wherein n is from 1 to 3 and R.sub.10 is H or --CONHR.sub.11 NR.sub.15 R.sub.16, where R.sub.11 is lower alkyl and R.sub.15 and R.sub.16 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl;
• R.sub.3 is H, hydroxy, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkoxyalkyl, hydroxycycloalkyl, alkoxycycloalkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl or alkylaminoalkyl;
• A is a heterocyclic aromatic group selected from the group consisting of:
• ##STR42## wherein R.sub.4, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, halogen, aryl, arylalkyl, aminoalkyl, aminoaryl, oxyalkyl, oxyaryl, or oxyarylalkyl;
• R.sub.12 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, aminoalkyl or alkylaminoalkyl,
• or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof;
• and
• (b) exposing said nucleic acid mixture to light to induce fluorescence of said compound of Formula (II);
• and
• (c) thereby detecting said DNA.

A method for the fluorescent detection of a microtubular structure comprising:

• (a) contacting said microtubular structure with a compound according to Formula (II) ##STR43## wherein:
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, or alkylaminoalkyl, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together represent a C.sub.2 to C.sub.10 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkylene or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together are:
• ##STR44## wherein n is from 1 to 3 and R.sub.10 is H or --CONHR.sub.11 NR.sub.15 R.sub.16, where R.sub.11 is lower alkyl and R.sub.15 and R.sub.16 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl;
• R.sub.3 is H, hydroxy, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkoxyalkyl, hydroxycycloalkyl, alkoxycycloalkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl or alkylaminoalkyl;
• A is a heterocyclic aromatic group selected from the group consisting of:
• ##STR45## wherein R.sub.4, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, halogen, aryl, arylalkyl, aminoalkyl, aminoaryl, oxyalkyl, oxyaryl, or oxyarylalkyl;
• R.sub.12 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, aminoalkyl or alkylaminoalkyl,
• or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof;
• and
• (b) exposing said microtubular structure to light to induce fluorescence of said compound of Formula (II);
• and
• (c) thereby detecting said microtubular structure.

A method for the simultaneous fluorescent detection of a first cellular structure and a second cellular structure in a cell, wherein said first cellular structure and said second cellular structure are different, said method comprising:

• (a) contacting said cell with a first fluorescent compound and a second fluorescent compound, wherein said first fluorescent compound selectively binds to said first structure and said second compound selectively binds to said second structure, wherein said first fluorescent compound and said second fluorescent compound have different fluorescent emission spectra, wherein said second fluorescent compound is structurally different from said first fluorescent compound, and wherein each of said fluorescent compounds has a structure according to Formula (II) ##STR46## wherein:
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, or alkylaminoalkyl, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together represent a C.sub.2 to C.sub.10 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkylene or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together are:
• ##STR47## wherein n is from 1 to 3 and R.sub.10 is H or --CONHR.sub.11 NR.sub.15 R.sub.16, wherein R.sub.11 is lower alkyl and R.sub.15 and R.sub.16 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl;
• R.sub.3 is H, hydroxy, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkoxyalkyl, hydroxycycloalkyl, alkoxycycloalkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl or alkylaminoalkyl;
• A is a heterocyclic aromatic group selected from the group consisting of:
• ##STR48## wherein R.sub.4, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, halogen, aryl, arylalkyl, aminoalkyl, aminoaryl, oxyalkyl, oxyaryl, or oxyarylalkyl;
• R.sub.12 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, aminoalkyl or alkylaminoalkyl,
• or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof;
• and
• (b) exposing said cell to light to induce fluorescence of both said first and second fluorescent compounds, so that said first cellular structure and said second cellular structure fluoresce at different fluorescent emission spectra, and (c) thereby simultaneously detecting said first and second cellular structures.