Enzymatically Shifting Nitroxides for EPR Spectroscopy and Overhauser-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

摘要

Invivo investigations of enzymatic processes using non-invasive approaches are a long-lasting challenge. Recently, we showed that Overhauser-enhanced MRI is suitable to such a purpose. A -phosphorylated nitroxide substrate prototype exhibiting keto-enol equilibrium upon enzymatic activity has been prepared. Upon enzymatic hydrolysis, a large variation of the phosphorus hyperfine coupling constant (a(P)=4G) was observed. The enzymatic activities of several enzymes were conveniently monitored by electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Using a 0.2T MRI machine, invitro and invivo OMRI experiments were successfully performed, affording a 1200% enhanced MRI signal invitro, and a 600% enhanced signal invivo. These results highlight the enhanced imaging potential of these nitroxides upon specific enzymatic substrate-to-product conversion.