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Concept
Thioflavin
Summary
Thioflavins are fluorescent dyes that are available as at least two compounds, namely Thioflavin T and Thioflavin S. Both are used for histology staining and biophysical studies of protein aggregation. In particular, these dyes have been used since 1989 to investigate amyloid formation. They are also used in biophysical studies of the electrophysiology of bacteria. Thioflavins are corrosive, irritants, and are acutely toxic, causing serious eye damage. Thioflavin T has been used in research into Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Thioflavin T (Basic Yellow 1, Methylene yellow, CI 49005, or ThT) is a benzothiazole salt obtained by the methylation of dehydrothiotoluidine with methanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid. The dye is widely used to visualize and quantify the presence of misfolded protein aggregates called amyloid, both in vitro and in vivo (e.g., plaques composed of amyloid beta found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients).
When it binds to beta sheet-rich structures, such as those in amyloid aggregates, the dye displays enhanced fluorescence and a characteristic red shift of its emission spectrum. Additional studies also consider fluorescence changes as result of the interaction with double stranded DNA. This change in fluorescent behavior can be caused by many factors that affect the excited state charge distribution of thioflavin T, including binding to a rigid, highly-ordered nanopocket, and specific chemical interactions between thioflavin T and the nanopocket.
Prior to binding to an amyloid fibril, thioflavin T emits weakly around 427 nm. Quenching effects of the nearby excitation peak at 450 nm is suspected to play a role in minimizing emissions.
When excited at 450 nm, thioflavin T produces a strong fluorescence signal at approximately 482 nm upon binding to amyloids. Thioflavin T molecule consists of a benzylamine and a benzothiazole ring connected through a carbon-carbon bond. These two rings can rotate freely when the molecule is in solution.
Official source
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