Investigation of subcellular acidic compartments using alpha-aminophosphonate 31P nuclear magnetic resonance probes.

The 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) characteristics, toxicity, and cellular penetration of five linear or cyclic alpha-aminophosphonate highly sensitive pH probes were investigated in Dictyostelium discoideum cells and isolated rat hearts and were compared with three phosphonic acid derivatives. The line width broadening at pH approximately pK(a), which was satisfactorily modelized for all compounds, was significantly limited in biological milieu for the new markers, affording a four- to sixfold better accuracy in pH determination. Cellular uptake or washout of nontoxic concentrations (< 15 mM) of alpha-aminophosphonates occurred by rapid passive permeation, whereas standard probes required a much slower fluid-phase pinocytosis and transport processes that could ultimately lead to trapping. Using mild concentrations (< 4 mM) three alpha-aminophosphonates having 6 < pK(a) < 7 allowed an easy and simultaneous 31P NMR determination of cytosolic, acidic, and extracellular compartments in anoxic-reoxygenated or starving D. discoideum.