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We study biological systems using cutting-edge chemical tools — environmentally sensitive fluorescent probes. By integrating expertise from chemistry, biology, and photophysics, we develop and apply these tools to investigate molecular interactions, cellular processes, and biomolecular environments. Our work advances both fundamental understanding and practical applications in bioimaging, microbiology, diagnostics, and environmental sensing.
Fluorescent probes to study bacterial fitness
Fluorescent probes to study bacterial fitness
With the global rise of antimicrobial resistance, bacterial infections have re-emerged as one of the most serious threats to modern society. In addition to developing new antibiotics, it is vital to develop molecular tools to study the mechanisms the bacteria use to survive under antibiotic stress and adapt to changing environmental conditions. This project aims to create fluorescent probes for real-time analysis of changes in the bacterial cell envelope under environmental stress. This will provide deeper insights into the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, guiding the development of next-generation therapies.
Main publications:
L. Weiss, D. Bonnet, D. Dziuba, J. Karpenko, Flow Cytometry Analysis of Perturbations in the Bacterial Cell Envelope Enabled by Monitoring Generalized Polarization of the Solvatochromic Peptide UNR-1, Anal. Chem. 2025, 97 (1), 622–628
L. Weiss, A. Mirloup, L. Blondé, H. Manko, J. Peluso, D. Bonnet, D. Dziuba, J. Karpenko, Fluorescent Antimicrobial Peptides Based on Nile Red: Effect of Conjugation Site and Chemistry on Wash-Free Staining of Bacteria, Bioconjugate Chem. 2024, 35 (11), 1779–1787
Detection of bacteria and diagnosis of bacterial infections
Detection of bacteria and diagnosis of bacterial infections
Rapid and accurate diagnosis of bacterial infections is crucial for reducing the overuse of antibiotics and preventing the global spread of antibiotic resistance. Our goal is to develop highly selective fluorogenic probes for bacteria, taking a step toward the rapid diagnosis of bacterial infections.
Fluorescent probes for GPCRs
Fluorescent probes for GPCRs
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of membrane receptors in eukaryotes. They recognize a diverse range of extracellular signals, including small molecules, peptides, proteins, and even photons, and mediate numerous cell signaling pathways. Due to their critical role in cellular signaling, GPCRs are the target of approximately 30% of marketed drugs.
With Dominique Bonnet and Andrey Klymchenko, we developed a series of environmentally sensitive probes for GPCRs. These probes enabled imaging of GPCRs in living cells and animals, allowing us to track receptor activation, internalization, and changes in their lipidic microenvironment.
Main publications:
F. Hanser, C. Marsol, C. Valencia, P. Villa, A. S. Klymchenko, D. Bonnet, J. Karpenko, Nile Red-Based GPCR Ligands as Ultrasensitive Probes of the Local Lipid Microenvironment of the Receptor, ACS Chem. Biol. 2021, 16, 4, 651–660
A. Mirloup, Y. Berthomé, S. Riché, P. Wagner, F. Hanser, A. Laurent, X. Iturrioz, C. Llorens-Cortes, J. Karpenko, D. Bonnet, Alared: Solvatochromic and Fluorogenic Red Amino Acid for Ratiometric Live‐cell Imaging of Bioactive Peptides, Chem. Eur. J. 2024, 30, e202401296
L. Esteoulle, F. Daubeuf, M. Collot, S. Riché, T. Durroux, D. Brasse, P. Marchand, J. Karpenko, A. S. Klymchenko and D. Bonnet, Near-Infrared Fluorogenic Dimer Enables Background-Free Imaging of Endogenous GPCR in Living Mice, Chemical Science 2020, 11, 6824-6829
J. Karpenko, M. Collot, L. Richert, C. Valencia, P. Villa, Y. Mély, M. Hibert, D. Bonnet, A. S Klymchenko, Fluorogenic squaraine dimers with polarity-sensitive folding as bright far-red probes for background-free bioimaging, JACS 2015, 137 (1), 405–412
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