Label-Free and Real-Time Monitoring of Phosphatase Reactions Using a Phosphate-Specific and Fluorescent Probe

A phosphate-specific and fluorescent probe was prepared for label-free phosphatase assays based on fluorescence polarization. By using the probe, dephosphorylation reactions of DNA and protein substrates by calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase (CIP) could effectively be monitored in real-time. Since this assay method does not require additional materials such as labeled substrates and phosphospecific antibodies to obtain fluorescence polarization signals, it is simple, cost-effective, and expected to be useful not only for measuring activity of phosphatases but also for high-throughput screening of phosphatase inhibitors.