Novel Fluorescence Arginine Analogue as a Sensor for Direct Identification and Imaging of Nitric Oxide Synthase-like Enzymes in Plants

Nitric oxide synthase like enzyme (NOS-like enzyme), which produces nitric oxide, participates in many biological processes. However it remains unidentified and highly controversial that plants do possess a NOS-like enzyme. In this paper, a novel arginine analogue NP1 was designed and developed for the direct identification and real time tracking of NOS-like enzymes in plant by fluorescence sensing. It could bind NOS-like enzyme efficiently and enter the cell successfully. In vivo fluorescence response results directly proved that NOS-like enzymes did exist in tobacco leaf and would be stimulated by pathogen infection, which also provided a useful chemical tool for the study of the function of NOS-like enzyme in plants.