Recent Progress in Fluorescent Probes for Adenosine Triphosphate Based on Small Organic Molecules

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a high-energy phosphate compound commonly existing in various living cells, which plays important roles in the biological activities such as energy storage, cell respiration and enzyme catalytic reactions. Therefore, it is very crucial to ATP research in bio-organism. Fluorescence detection techniques has the advantages of convenient operation, good selectivity and high sensitivity, etc. In recent years, the design and synthesis of efficient ATP fluorescence sensors have become a research focus in the fields of biochemistry and analytical chemistry. According to the structure characteristics, ATP fluorescence chemosensors are categorized as Zn(II) metal ions as recognition of bonding site type, other metal ions as recognition of bonding site type and electrostatic or hydrogen bond as interaction type. Based on organic small molecule fluorescence sensors, the recent progress in research of ATP fluorescence sensors in molecular design and application is reviewed, and the prospects for their development are discussed.