A Highly Selective Luminescent Switch‐On Probe for Histidine/Histidine‐Rich Proteins and Its Application in Protein Staining

Abstract

No destaining required: The luminescence properties of an iridium(III)–2-phenylpyridine complex can be utilized for the detection of proteins in sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gels. Emissive gel images obtained upon staining with the complex are visible under UV light. The high detection sensitivity for histidine-rich proteins (right vial, compared to a non-histidine-tagged protein) suggests potential applications in the signaling of biomolecules.