RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/114,936, filed on February 11, 2015. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs), a powerful source for the therapy of neurodegenerative disorders and traumatic injuries, are proliferating cells having properties of self-renewal and differentiation into neuron and glia. NSPCs are classified according to their developmental stage and their differentiation capacities, e.g., radial glia (RG) arisen from developing neuroepithelial cells.

[0003] Since the current methodology has mainly relied on a limited number of cell surface markers, development of new methods is highly sought after for isolating and applying a minute NSPC population to identify a novel target. Recently, small fluorescent molecules have been employed as a novel tool to visualize and to isolate special cell types 1 ' 2.

[0004] ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters pump out diverse molecules from cells to extracellular spaces in eukaryotes. Side population (SP), defined by fluorescent dye efflux mainly through ABCB1 and/or ABCG2 transporters, has been used to isolate stem cell population from various organs such as hematopoietic and cancer stem cells. However, SP cells from freshly isolated mouse embryonic brain have characteristics of a hematopoietic/endothelial origin, suggesting that NSPCs exist outside of SP . Hence, analysis of transgenic mice expressing nuclear GFP under Abcg2 promoter also revealed that the majority of NSPCs did not merge with Abcg2 expressing cells ⁴ . Nonetheless, the study of low Abcg2 expressing types of cells has not been tried because no methods are available to distinguish low levels of Abcg2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides a fluorescence probe excluded from a live cell through Abcg2 activity. An isolated population of mouse embryonic brain with strong probe signal showed NSPC properties, enhanced neurosphere forming capacity and neuron/glia

differentiation. The population unexpectedly had a high neurogenic potential compared to the conventional CD 133 ^hlgh isolated NSPC population from embryonic brain. Thus, the probe of the present invention can be used to isolate a NSPC population having low levels of Abcg2, which retained high neurogenic potential.

[0006] In a first aspect, the invention provides a composition represented by structural formula (I):

or a salt and/or tautomer thereof, wherein

n is a whole number selected from 1 to 5;

X for each occurrence is independently selected from H, (Ci-C2o)alkyl, (C2-C2o)alkenyl, (C ₂ -C ₂ o)alkynyl, (Ci-C ₂₀ )alkoxy, (Ci-C ₂₀ )alkylamino, (C ₃ -C ₁₀ )cycloalkyl, -C(0)R _{l s} -S(0) ₂ Ri, amino, pyridyl, nitrile, nitro or -C(0)N(Ri)(R2);

Ri is H, amino, (Ci-C ₂ o)alkyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkenyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkynyl, (Ci-C ₂ o)alkoxy, (Ci-C2o)alkylamino or (C ₃ -C ₁₀ )cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with one or more groups independently selected from (Ci-Cio)alkyl, (C ₃ -C ₁₀ )cycloalkyl, halo, (C ₆ -C ₁₂ )aryl, (5- 12 atom) heteroaryl, (5- 12 atom) heterocycle, or -C(0)0(Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, further optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halo, (C ₆ -C ₁₂ )aryl, (C ₁ -C ₃ )alkyl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkoxy, -OCF ₃ or oxo;

R ₂ is H, amino, (Ci-C ₂₀ )alkyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkenyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkynyl, (Ci-C ₂₀ )alkoxy, (Ci-C2o)alkylamino or (C ₃ -C ₁₀ )cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with one or more groups independently selected from (Ci-Cio)alkyl, (C ₃ -C ₁₀ )cycloalkyl, halo, (C ₆ -C ₁₂ )aryl, (5- 12 atom) heteroaryl, (5- 12 atom) heterocycle, or -C(0)0(Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, further optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halo, (C ₆ -C ₁₂ )aryl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkoxy, -OCF ₃ or oxo; or Ri and R ₂ may be taken together to form a ring, wherein the ring is optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from (Ci-Cio)alkyl, (C ₃ -Cio)cycloalkyl, halo, (C ₆ - Ci ₂ )aryl, (5-12 atom) heteroaryl, (5-12 atom) heterocycle, -C(0)0(Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, or a 4-5 member polycyclyl fused to the ring, further optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halo, (C ₆ -Ci ₂ )aryl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkoxy, -OCF ₃ , or oxo;

with the proviso that when the composition of structural formula I is represented by structural formula (II):

Ri and R ₂ cannot both be n-hexyl.

[0007] In an embodiment of the first aspect, X is -C(0)Ri, -S(0) ₂ Ri or -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ).

[0008] In another embodiment of the first aspect, -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ).

[0009] In another embodiment of the first aspect, X is -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ), and Ri and R ₂ are independently (C5-Ci ₂ )alkyl.

[0010] In another embodiment of the first aspect, X is -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ), and Ri and R ₂ are independently (C ₆ -C ₉ )alkyl.

[0011] In another embodiment of the first aspect, X is -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ) at para position, and Ri and R ₂ are independently (C ₆ -C ₉ )alkyl.

[0012] In another embodiment of the first aspect, formula (I) is represented by the structural formula of any of the compounds in Table 2.

[0013] In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of visualizing a target cell, the method comprising (a) contacting a population of the target cell with a composition to form an incubation media; (b) incubating the incubation media of step (a) for a period of time sufficient to stain the target cells; and (c) visualizing the stained target cells of step (b) with fluorescence microscopy to visualize the target cell; wherein the composition is represented by structural formula (I):

or a salt and/or a tautomer thereof, wherein

n is a whole number selected from 1 to 5;

X for each occurrence is independently selected from H, (Ci-C ₂ o)alkyl, (C ₂ -C ₂ o)alkenyl, (C ₂ -C ₂ o)alkynyl, (Ci-C ₂₀ )alkoxy, (Ci-C ₂₀ )alkylamino, (C ₃ -C ₁₀ )cycloalkyl, -C(0)R _ls -S(0) ₂ Ri, amino, pyridyl, nitrile, nitro or -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ );

Ri is H, amino, (Ci-C ₂ o)alkyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkenyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkynyl, (Ci-C ₂ o)alkoxy, (Ci-C ₂ o)alkylamino or (C ₃ -Cio)cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with one or more groups independently selected from (Ci-Cio)alkyl, (C ₃ -Cio)cycloalkyl, halo, (C ₆ -Ci ₂ )aryl, (5-12 atom) heteroaryl, (5-12 atom) heterocycle, or -C(0)0(Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, further optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halo, (C ₆ -Ci ₂ )aryl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkoxy, -OCF ₃ or oxo;

R ₂ is H, amino, (Ci-C ₂ o)alkyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkenyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkynyl, (Ci-C ₂ o)alkoxy, (Ci-C ₂ o)alkylamino or (C ₃ -Cio)cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with one or more groups independently selected from (Ci-Cio)alkyl, (C ₃ -Cio)cycloalkyl, halo, (C ₆ -Ci ₂ )aryl, (5-12 atom) heteroaryl, (5-12 atom) heterocycle, or -C(0)0(Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, further optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halo, (C ₆ -Ci ₂ )aryl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkoxy, -OCF ₃ or oxo; or Ri and R ₂ may be taken together to form a ring, wherein the ring is optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from (Ci-Cio)alkyl, (C ₃ -Cio)cycloalkyl, halo, (C ₆ - Ci ₂ )aryl, (5-12 atom) heteroaryl, (5-12 atom) heterocycle, -C(0)0(Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, or a 4-5 member polycyclyl fused to the ring, further optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halo, (C ₆ -Ci ₂ )aryl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkoxy, -OCF ₃ , or oxo.

[0014] In an embodiment of the second aspect, the target cell is a neural stem cell. The neural stem cell can be an ABCG2 ^low neural stem cell.

[0015] In another embodiment of the second aspect, X is -C(0)Ri, -S(0) ₂ Ri or - C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ).

[0016] In another embodiment of the second aspect, X is -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ). [0017] In another embodiment of the second aspect, X is -C(0)N(Ri)(R2), and Ri and R ₂ are independently (C5-Ci ₂ )alkyl.

[0018] In another embodiment of the second aspect, X is -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ), and Ri and R ₂ are independently (C ₆ -C ₉ )alkyl.

[0019] In another embodiment of the second aspect, X is -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ) at para position, and Ri and R ₂ are independently (C ₆ -C ₉ )alkyl.

[0020] In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of isolating a neural stem cell, the method comprising (a) visualizing the neural stem cell by contacting a population of the neural stem cells with a composition to form an incubation media, incubating the incubation media for a period of time sufficient to stain the neural stem cells, and visualizing the stained neural stem cells with fluorescence microscopy to visualize the neural stem cell; (b) exciting the neural stem cells by exposing the incubation media to light of a wavelength of about 488 nm to about 561 nm; and (c) separating the excited neural stem cells from the incubation media by fluorescence activated cell sorting using a bandpass filter configured to detect light emitted at about 529 ± 28 nm; wherein the composition is represented by structural formula (I):

or a salt and/or tautomer thereof, wherein

n is a whole number selected from 1 to 5;

X for each occurrence is independently selected from H, (Ci-C ₂ o)alkyl, (C ₂ -C ₂ o)alkenyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkynyl, (Ci-C ₂₀ )alkoxy, (Ci-C ₂₀ )alkylamino, (C ₃ -C ₁₀ )cycloalkyl, -C(0)R _{l s} -S(0) ₂ R _{l s} amino, pyridyl, nitrile, nitro or -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ );

Ri is H, amino, (Ci-C ₂₀ )alkyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkenyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkynyl, (Ci-C ₂₀ )alkoxy,

(Ci-C ₂ o)alkylamino or (C ₃ -Cio)cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with one or more groups independently selected from (Ci-Cio)alkyl, (C ₃ -Cio)cycloalkyl, halo, (C ₆ -Ci ₂ )aryl, (5-12 atom) heteroaryl, (5-12 atom) heterocycle, or -C(0)0(Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, further optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halo, (C ₆ -Ci ₂ )aryl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, (Ci-C3)alkoxy, -OCF ₃ or oxo; R ₂ is H, amino, (Ci-C ₂ o)alkyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkenyl, (C ₂ -C ₂₀ )alkynyl, (Ci-C ₂₀ )alkoxy, (Ci-C ₂ o)alkylamino or (C ₃ -Cio)cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with one or more groups independently selected from (Ci-Cio)alkyl, (C ₃ -Cio)cycloalkyl, halo, (C ₆ -Ci ₂ )aryl, (5-12 atom) heteroaryl, (5-12 atom) heterocycle, -C(0)0(Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, further optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halo, (C ₆ -Ci ₂ )aryl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkoxy, -OCF ₃ or oxo; or Ri and R ₂ may be taken together to form a ring, wherein the ring is optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from (Ci-Cio)alkyl, (C ₃ -Cio)cycloalkyl, halo, (C ₆ - Ci ₂ )aryl, (5-12 atom) heteroaryl, (5-12 atom) heterocycle, -C(0)0(Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, or a 4-5 member polycyclyl fused to the ring, further optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halo, (C ₆ -Ci ₂ )aryl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkyl, (Ci-C ₃ )alkoxy, -OCF ₃ , or oxo.

[0021] In an embodiment of the third aspect, X is -C(0)Ri, -S(0) ₂ Ri or -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ).

[0022] In another embodiment of the third aspect, X is -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ).

[0023] In another embodiment of the third aspect, X is -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ), and Ri and R ₂ are independently (C ₅ -Ci ₂ )alkyl.

[0024] In another embodiment of the third aspect, X is -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ), and Ri and R ₂ are independently (C ₆ -C ₉ )alkyl.

[0025] In another embodiment of the third aspect, X is -C(0)N(Ri)(R ₂ ) at para position, and Ri and R ₂ are independently (C ₆ -C ₉ )alkyl.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIGS. 1A-1B show NMR spectra of compound 1: (A) 1H NMR spectra of compound

1 in DMSO-d ⁶ , and (B) ¹³ C NMR spectra of compound 1 in DMSO-d ⁶ .

[0027] FIGS. 2A-2B show NMR spectra of compound 2: (A) 1H NMR spectra of compound

2 in DMSO-d ⁶ , and (B) ¹³ C NMR spectra of compound 2 in DMSO-d ⁶ .

[0028] FIGS. 3A-3B show NMR spectra of CDgl3: (A) 1H NMR spectra of compound CDgl3 in DMSO-d ⁶ , and (B) ¹³ C NMR spectra of CDgl3 in DMSO-d ⁶ .

[0029] FIGS. 4A-4C show that CDgl 3 stains ER of NSPC: (A) chemical structure of CDgl3, (B) image of live MEF, mouse ESC, NS5 and differentiated NS5 (D-NS5) taken after staining followed by washing briefly (live cells were stained with CDgl 3 (1 μΜ) and Hoechst 33342 (2 μΜ) for 1 hour) (bar: 50 μηι), and (C) confocal images of live NS-5 cells stained with CDgl3 and a subcellular organelle marker (subcellular organelles were stained with ER, Golgi, lysosome and mitochondria tracker) (bar: 10 μπι).

[0030] FIGS. 5A-5C show that radial glia cells are enriched in CDgl3 ^bright population: (A) live CDgl3 ^bright or CD133 ^high cell population (about 5% of total single cells) were sorted from E14.5 mice embryonic cortical brain, (B) phase contrast image of unsorted or sorted

neurospheres cultured for 6 days (left) and the number of neurospheres having > 50 μπι diameter from 10,000 cells/well (N=3) (right) (bar: 200 μιτι), and (C) the number of neurospheres sub- cultured with 1 ,000 cells/well - serial passaging of neurospheres were repeated and counted until passage 4 (N=3) (data are mean ± SEM. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01 ; unpaired two-tailed Student's T-test were used to calculate statistical significance).

[0031] FIGS. 6A-6H show neuronal differentiation of CDgl3 ^bright neurospheres: (A) differentiated neurospheres were classified as multi- (grey to black) or uni-potent (white) neurospheres; the number of neurospheres were counted and represented as percentage; number of neuron clumps in each multi-potent neurospheres were counted and classified as indicated; total 150 differentiated neurospheres in each group from three independent experiments were analyzed, (B) representative images of multi- (Tuj l ⁺ GFAP ⁺ sphere), or uni-potent (GFAP ⁺ sphere) neurosphere (bar: 200 μιτι), (C) representative image of neurite outgrowth in an edge of a multi -potent neurosphere(bar: 100 μιη), (D) average length of neurite outgrowth of a cell from neurospheres were quantified (bar: 100 μιτι), (E) and (F) protein expression of Tujl and β-actin of differentiated neurospheres derived from unsorted, CDgl3-, and CD133-sorted cells, actin was used as loading control, representative image of Western blot (E), and (G) and (H) gene expression profile of CDgl3 ^bnght and CD133high cells isolated from E14.5 mouse embryonic brain, indicated markers of radial glial cells (G) and neurogenic progenitor cells (H) were analyzed by qRT-PCR using total RNA, quantified values of three independent experiments (F) (*, p<0.05;**, p<0.01 compare to the value of unsorted neurospheres (F) or cells (G and H), values are mean ± SEM, at least three independent samples were used to analyze each experimental group, unpaired two-tailed Student's T-test were performed to calculate statistical significance). [0032] FIGS. 7A-7C show CDgl3 stains depending on Abcg2 activity: (A) CDgl3 (1 μΜ) were stained for 1 hour in live (A-l) or dead cells treated with 4% PFA (A-2) (representative image of three independent experiments, and (B) and (C) NS5 cells were treated STF31 (2 μΜ), ionomycin (0.1 μΜ) or Kol43 (0.5 μΜ) with treatment of CDgl3 and Hoechst33342 under normal media (control had same amount of DMSO (0.2%) with other drugs treated group), staining intensity is shown by epifluorescence microscopy (B) or flow cytometry (C) (bar: 50 μ m).

[0033] FIGS. 8A-8D show that Abcg2 mediates the staining of CDgl3: (A) and (B) differentiated NS5 cells were treated with ABC inhibitors during the staining of CDgl3 and Hoechst33342, the amount of each inhibitor used: 1 and 5 μΜ for elacridar (Ela) and Kol43; 10 and 50 μΜ for verapamil (Vera) and MK571; 100 and 500 μΜ for probenecid (Pro),

representative images (A) are from low concentration of each drug, stained cells were washed with N2 supplement- and serum-free growth medium while observation to prevent further washout of CDgl3 (control has same amount of DMSO (0.2%) with other drugs treated group), the average intensity from three independent experiments was calculated using flow cytometry (B), and (C) and (D) live cells from P2-4 neurospheres were sorted with CDgl3 ^bnght (5%) and CDgl3 ^aim (10-20% of total) population using FACS, the mRNA expression of ABC transporters of CDgl3 ^bright and CDgl3 ^dim population were analyzed by qRT-PCR (data were normalized by β- actin expression and represented as relative fold compared to CDgl3 ^dim population (N=3).

[0034] FIGS. 9A-9D show gene expression of ABC transporters: (A) undifferentiated (NS5) and 3-days differentiated NS5 (D-NS5), (B) the mRNA expression of the indicated ABC transporters were analyzed by qRT-PCR using total RNA from control and Abcg2-targeted siRNA transfected D-NS5 cells (N=3), and (C) and (D) negative (-) control siRNA (siCon) and Abcg2-targeted siRNA (siAbcg2) treated D-NS5 cells were stained with CDgl3 for 1 hour, representative cells image (C) and the intensity staining of CDgl3 (D) are shown (N=3) (data were normalized by β-actin expression and represented as relative fold, all values are means ± SEM, *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01, unpaired two-tailed Student's T-test was used to calculate statistical significance)(Bar in (C): 100 μηι). [0035] FIGS. 10A-10D show CDgl3 is a substrate of human ABCG2: (A) and (B) human KB3-1 cells (WT) and hABCG2-overexpressed KB3-1 cells (ABCG2) were stained with 1 μΜ of CDgl3, Hoechst 33342 and Rhodaminel23 for 1 hour, representative image of stained cells with each probe are shown (A), the intensity of intracellular fluorescence was measured by flow cytometry (N=3)(B), (C) serial concentration of an ABCG2 inhibitor (Kol43) (C) or ABCB1 inhibitor (Verapamil) (D) were pretreated to ABCG2 overexpressing cells (C) or HCT-15 (D) (fluorescence intensity of three fluorescent probes were measured by flow cytometry after 1 hour staining (N=3), all values are means ± SEM, **, p < 0.01).

[0036] FIGS. 11A-11B show CDgl3 has high sensitivity to ABCG2: (A) and (B) pre- treatment of RPMI-8226 cells with or without Kol43 were conducted for 30 minutes prior to staining with 1 μΜ of CDgl3, pheophorbide A (PhA) or CDr3, fold change of fluorescence intensity from 3-6 independent experiments (A) (values are means ± SEM, *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01), and representative fluorescence histogram of CDgl3 and PhA (B) (unstained, 0, 100, 1,000 and 5,000 nM of Kol43 treated group is presented).

[0037] FIGS. 12A-12B shows CDgl3 has low cytotoxicity: (A) KB3-1 cells were cultured with the indicated amount of Hoechst33342 and CDgl3 for 48 hours, MTS assay was conducted to measure their viability (N=3) (values are means ± SEM, unpaired two-tailed Student's T-test), and (B) the diameter of 200 neurospheres (P3) cultured for 7 DIV with or without 1 μΜ of CDgl3 are presented as dot plot, red line indicates the median values of size of neurospheres (data is representative of the three independent experiments, n.s.=no significance).

[0038] FIG. 13 shows normalised absorption and emission spectra of CDgl3 in ethanol (emission: about 550 nm to about 588 nm / normalized intensity 0.5-1.0).

[0039] The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] A description of example embodiments of the invention follows. [0041] The present invention provides ABCG2-targeted NSPC fluorescent probes, e.g., CDgl3 and CF-DC8, selected from a diversity-oriented fluorescence library approach (DOFLA). NSPCs can be easily isolated and purified by using the fluorescent probes of the present invention, e.g., CDgl3 and CF-DC8, based on their lowest Abcg2 activity.

[0042] A CF library was synthesized by using 4-(2,7-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-9H-xanthen-9- yl)benzoic acid, an amine building block and HBTU with DIEA (see Scheme 1, Table 1, Table 2). The spectroscopic properties of the compounds in CF-Library were summarized in Table 3.

Scheme 1: Reagents and conditions: (a) Methanesulfonic acid, DCM, rt, overnight, (b) p-TsOH, Toluene, 170 °C, 18h, (c) Amine building block, HBTU, DIEA, DCM/DMF (4/1), rt, 5h.

Table 1: CF-Plate Map with amine codes

CF 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

28 32 55 66 77 80 115 164 166 171

A

CF A02 CF A03 CF A04 CF A05 CF A06 CF A07 CF A08 CF A09 CF A10 CF Al l

175 177 188 193 195 215 222 230 266 277

B

CF B02 CF B03 CF B04 CF B05 CF B06 CF B07 CF B08 CF B09 CF B10 CF B11

349 384 387 395 428 429 442 443 478 582

C

CF C02 CF CO 3 CF C04 CF C05 CF C06 CF C07 CF C08 CF C09 CF C10 CF C11 11 20 33 34 65 74 78 95 100 131

D

CFD02 CF DO 3 CFD04 CFD05 CF D06 CFD07 CF D08 CFD09 CFD10 CFD11

135 157 554 180 182 184 185 199 201 206

E

CFE02 CFE03 CF E04 CFE05 CFE06 CFE07 CFE08 CFE09 CFE10 CFE11

219 223 227 232 269 271 273 274 279 292

F

CF F02 CFF03 CF F04 CFF05 CF F06 CFF07 CFF08 CFF09 CFF10 DCFF11

307 311 335 343 357 373 377 382 419 422

G

CFG02 CFG03 CFG04 CFG05 CFG06 CFG07 CFG08 CFG09 CFG10 DCFG11

424 426 439 441 462 477 480 599 602 657

H

CFH02 CF HO 3 CFH04 CFH05 CF H06 CFH07 CFH08 CFH09 CFH10 CFH11

Table 3: Spectroscopic Properties of CF Library

Plate

Abs (nm) Em (nm) QY (φ) Plate

Abs (nm) Em (nm) QY (φ) Code Code

CF-A2 520 558 0.42 CF-C5 520 558 0.63

CF-A3 520 559 0.40 CF-C6 520 554 0.58

CF-A4 520 558 0.26 CF-C7 520 558 0.42

CF-A5 520 556 0.75 CF-C8 520 558 0.68

CF-A6 520 557 0.43 CF-C9 520 558 0.50

CF-A7 520 560 0.58 CF-C10 520 558 0.54

CF-A8 520 558 0.37 CF-C11 520 553 0.82

CF-A9 520 557 0.63 CF-D2 520 557 0.61

CF-A10 520 558 0.63 CF-D3 520 555 0.47

CF-A11 520 558 0.36 CF-D4 520 555 0.69

CF-B2 520 558 0.53 CF-D5 520 555 0.66

0.32

CF-B3 520 557 CF-D6 520 555 0.32

CF-B4 520 556 0.90 CF-D7 520 555 0.54

CF-B5 520 559 0.54 CF-D8 520 558 0.47

CF-B6 520 558 0.77 CF-D9 520 558 0.25

CF-B7 520 556 0.70 CF-D10 520 558 0.59

CF-B8 520 559 0.57 CF-D11 520 558 0.44

CF-B9 520 558 0.60 CF-E2 520 557 0.63

CF-B10 520 559 0.56 CF-E3 520 554 0.66

CF-B11 520 558 0.66 CF-E4 520 558 0.47

CF-C2 520 559 0.78 CF-E5 520 556 0.58

CF-C3 520 559 0.37 CF-E6 520 557 0.29

CF-C4 520 559 0.55 CF-E7 520 557 0.46

CF-F8 520 559 0.34 CF-G10 520 558 0.23

CF-F9 520 557 0.34

CF-G11 520 557 0.35

CF-F10 520 559 0.35 CF-H2 520 556 0.65

CF-F11 520 559 0.21

CF-H3 520 553 0.82 CF-G2 520 553 0.85 CF-H4 520 556 0.63

CF-G3 520 552 0.63 CF-H5 520 557 0.67

CF-G4 520 556 0.40 CF-H6 520 553 0.65

CF-G5 520 557 0.38 CF-H7 520 557 0.59

CF-G6 520 556 0.29 CF-H8 520 556 0.51

CF-G7 520 559 0.41 CF-H9 520 558 0.30

CF-G8 520 556 0.29 CF-H10 520 557 0.38

CF-G9 520 557 0.27 CF-H11 520 552 0.32

Absorbance and fluorescence excitation and emission data were recorded by a Synergy 4, Biotek Inc. fluorescent plate reader in 96-well polypropylene plates (sample concentration: 100 μΜ in ethanol). Quantum yield (Φ) are calculated using the following equation, <½>CF = ^< ^ ^> ref (Ec _F /E _re f) (t]CF ^ref ) (A _re /Ac _F ); where <P _re f is known value of reference (fluorescein), E is the integrated emission spectrum, A is the absorbance at the excitation wavelength, and η is the refractive index of the solvents used.

[0043] Synthetic Procedures

[0044] Methyl 4-(bis(5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methyl)benzoate (Compound 1):

Methyl 4-formylbenzoate (0.82 g, 5 mmole) and 4-chlorobenzene-l,3-diol (1.45 g, 10 mmole) were dissolved together in DCM (20 mL). Methanesulfonic acid (2.5 mL) was added to it slowly and the reaction mixture was allowed to stir at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was quenched with water (20 mL). The organic layer was washed in water (10 mL) three times. Then the organic layer was dried over Na ₂ S04 and dried by rotary evaporation. Crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography (EA: Hexane = 1:4). The product was obtained as yellowish solid (2g, 92%). 1H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d ₆ ): δ (ppm) 9.88 (s, 2H), 9.50 (s, 4H), 7.86 (d, 2H, 9 Hz), 7.13 (d, 2H, 9 Hz), 6.53 (s, 2H), 6.41 (s, 2H), 5.77 (s, 1 H), 3.82 (s, 3H). ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, DMSO-d ₆ ):5 (ppm) 166.54, 154.63, 152.34, 150.09, 129.92, 129.48, 129.36, 127.67, 121.97, 109.24, 104.12, 52.33, 42.41 ; EI-MS (m/z): Calc'd for C ₂ iH ₁₆ Cl ₂ 0 ₆ 434.0; found 435.0 (M+H). (FIG. 1).

[0045] 4-(2,7-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-9H-xanthen-9-yl)benzoic acid (Compound 2):

Compound 1 (22 mg, 0.05 mmol) was dissolved in toluene (5mL). P-Toulene sulfonic acid (76 mg, 0.40 mmol) was added to it and the mixture was refluxed at 170°C for 18 h. The reaction mixture was cooled and then quenched by saturated NaHC0 ₃ solution. Then the organic layer was dried over Na ₂ S0 ₄ and dried by rotary evaporation. Crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography (MeOH: DCM = 2:5). The product was obtained as reddish solid (3.2 mg, 16%). 1H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d ₆ ): δ (ppm) 8.12 (d, 2H, 8 Hz), 7.50 (d, 2H, 8Hz), 6.81 (s, 2H), 6.19 (s, 2H). ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, DMSO-d ₆ ):5 (ppm) 173.68, 162.69, 156.20, 137.34,

134.98, 132.20, 129.95, 129.28, 127.61, 119.61, 110.45, 108.35, 104.12, 36.15. ESI-MS (m/z): Calc'd for C20H12CI2O5 402.0; found 400.9 (M-H). (FIG. 2).

[0046] General Procedure for the synthesis of CF-Library: Compound 2 (leq), amine (2 eq) and HBTU (2.5 eq) dissolved in DCM/DMF (4/1). DIEA (2.5 eq) was added to the reaction mixture. The reaction mixture was stirred in rt until completion of the reaction. Product was purified by column chromatography using methanol and dichloromethane as eluent. All the library compounds were characterised by LC-MS. The spectral data of library compounds are summarized in Table 3.

[0047] Characterization of CDgl3: The product was obtained as red solid.1H and ¹³ C NMR

Spectra of CDgl3 were as follows (FIG. 3): 1H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d ₆ ): δ (ppm) 7.50 (d, 2H, 9 Hz), 7.21 (d, 2H, 9 Hz), 6.86 (s, 2H), 6.24 (s, 2H), 2.79 (t, 4H, 9 Hz), 1.60 (m, 4H), 1.28 (m, 12H), 0.86 (t, 6H, 7.5 Hz). ¹³ C NMR (75 MHz, DMSO-d ₆ ):5 (ppm) 167.18, 156.69, 155.12,

129.99, 129.57, 127.81, 126.91, 123.28, 118.53, 111.41, 108.27, 103.93, 47.05, 36.15, 31.13, 26.08, 25.68, 14.19. HRMS: m/z calc'd for C ₃ 2H ₃₅ C1 ₂ N0 ₄ (M+H)+ 568.2016; found 568.2023.

= 520553 nm and quantum yield =0.82, extinction co-efficient of CDgl3 = 40933.2 M ^"1 cm ^"1 measured in ethanol. Normalized absorption and emission spectra of CDgl3 can be seen in FIG. 13.

[0048] The screening platform was composed of mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF), mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC), NS5 and differentiated NS5 (D-NS5) (FIG. 4). A derivate from the CF library was selected having eleven saturated carbon chain (CF-Cl 1), named as compound of designation green 13 (CDgl3, _ab em = 520553 nm; quantum yield =0.82) (FIG. 4A, Table 3). CDgl3 preferentially stains undifferentiated NS-5 cells, a NSPC line, but not other cell types (FIG. 4B). To characterize the subcellular target of the CDgl3 probe, the image of CDgl3 using confocal microscopy was analyzed. The CDgl3 stained organelle was clearly merged with the staining of a molecular probe that targeted endoplasmic reticulum (ER), but not with Golgi, lysosome, and mitochondria targeted probes (FIG. 4C). The value of co-localization with ER was appeared as 0.97 on both of Pearson's Collection and Mander's overlap, whereas other organelle markers were below 0.83.

[0049] Next, whether the small chemical probe, CDgl3, can be applied to isolate RG from E14.5 mouse forebrains was analyzed. RG are NSPCs of embryonic brain, and they form neurospheres under in vitro condition with bFGF and EGF. A population of cells from El 4.5 mouse embryonic brain was isolated using FACS with staining of CDgl3 or CD133/Prominin antibody - the most well-known surface marker for neural stem cell isolation (FIG. 5A). Cells with bright CDgl3 fluorescence (CDgl3 ^bnght ) formed enhanced number of neurospheres compared to that from unsorted brain cells (5.9-fold) and to that from CD133 positive cells (CD133 ^hlgh ) (1.5-fold) (FIG. 5B). Although the enhanced number of neurospheres were observed, there was a possibility that the enrichment of neurosphere forming cells might be derived by intermediate progenitor cells (IPCs) since they also can generate primary neurosphere with their limited proliferation capacity. To test NSPC property, neurospheres with same number of cells (1,000 cells/well) were passaged to analyze their self -renewal potential until passage 4. The cells derived from CDgl3 or CD 133 sorted neurospheres formed maximum number of daughter neurospheres from passage 1 to 4 with similar levels, indicating that they sustained their self-renewal capacity (FIG. 5C). Whereas, the neurosphere forming capacity of cells from unsorted neurospheres was gradually increased by passage number, and reached to the levels of CDgl3 and CD 133 sorted neurospheres at around 3-4 passage because of elimination of IPCs (FIG. 5C). These data implicated that CDgl3 isolates self-renewable NSPCs directly from mouse embryonic brain as much as CD 133 immunostaining.

[0050] NSPCs have potential to differentiate into neuron and glia. To analyze the

differentiation potential of CDgl3 ^bnght cells, primary neurospheres were randomly differentiated using serum-containing media on poly-D-lysine coated culture vessels. The differentiated cells were immunostained with Tuj 1 and GFAP, markers of neuron and astrocyte, respectively (FIG. 6). Interestingly, the neurospheres formed from CDgl3 ^bnght cells were highly differentiated to neuron compared to the neurospheres from unsorted and CD133 ^hlgh cells, 95.3% (CDgl3) versus 79.3% (Unsorted) and 88.0% (CD133) in the whole spheres (FIG. 6A). To further clarify their neurogenic potential, the number of neuron clumps was counted, often observed in multi-potent neurospheres (FIG. 6B). A neuron clump was defined if there were more than 10 of neuronal cell bodies aggregated to each other (FIG. 6B). The multi -potent neurospheres originated from

CDgl3 ^bright cells contained more neuron clumps than that from other groups, suggesting that more neurons were differentiated in the neurospheres derived from CDgl3 ^bnght cells (FIGS. 6A,

6B). However, average neurite outgrowth of neurons from CDgl3 ^bnght neurospheres was more, but not as significant developed as that from unsorted and CD133 ^hlgh cells-sorted neurospheres, indicating that neurons from all groups were developed similar levels (FIGS. 6C, 6D). The quantification of total Tuj 1 levels from differentiated neurospheres supported that the more neurons were differentiated from neurospheres derived from CDgl3 ^bnght cells (FIGS. 6E, 6F).

[0051] To further evaluate the characteristic of CDg 13 ^bright NSPCs, gene expression of NSPC markers was analyzed. Three markers for NSPCs, Nestin, FABP-7/BLBP, and Hesl, were significantly enhanced in the enriched NSPCs using CDg 13 probe and CD 133 antibody (FIG.

6G). It supported the fact that the two groups have NSPC property. Interestingly, NeuroDl, neurogenic IPC marker gene, was significantly increased only in CDgl3 ^bnght cell population but not in the CD133 ^hlgh cell population (FIG. 6H). This information suggested that CDgl3 ^bnght

NSPCs has unique properties with different gene expression of NeuroD 1 compared to the

C _{D 133} high _NSPCs

[0052] To examine the mechanism of CDg 13 staining, several approaches were performed. Since CDgl3 non-specifically stained dead cells either in NS-5 and differentiated NS-5 (FIG 7A), it was hypothesized that most live cells block to enter the compound into cells or actively secrete the compound to extracellular space. First, neither inhibition of the NSPC specific channel, glucose transporter 1 (Glutl) (STF31), nor disruption of membrane potential by using calcium ionophore (ionomycin) reduced CDg 13 staining in NS-5 cells, indicating that entrance of the compound is not mediated by inward channel or their membrane property (FIGS. 7B and 7C). Interestingly, however, blocking secretion mechanism through treatment of a specific Abcg2 inhibitor, Kol43, stained CDgl3 more strongly than normal NS-5 cells (FIGS. 7B and 7C).

[0053] Various inhibitors of ABC transporters were tested to analyze the specificity of CDg 13 staining as several ABC transporters mediate stem cells or cancer cells capacity. Verapamil, MK571, probenecid, elacridar and Kol43 were used to block Abcbl, Abccl-4, Abcbl/Abcg2 and Abcg2, respectively on differentiated NS5 cells. As a result, verapamil and probenecid had no effect of probe staining. Elacridar and Kol43 significantly increased the staining of CDgl3 around 2.5 fold than DMSO control (FIGS. 8A-B). Although MK571 also affected CDgl3 staining, the intensity of staining was much lower (~ 1.5 fold) and had significance with the value of elacridar and Kol43 (FIGS. 8A-B). The involvement of Abcg2 on the staining of CDgl3 was also supported by gene expression analysis with FACS sorted cells using CDgl3 from cultured neurospheres. By comparing of ABC transporters mRNA between the bright (CDgl3 ^bnght ) and dim (CDgl3 ^dim ) CDgl3 contained cells, only Abcg2 expression was significantly decreased in CDgl3 ^bnght cells was observed (FIG. 8C). All other ABC transporters that were tested, Abcal, Abca2, Abca3, Abcbla, Abcblb and Abccl, were similarly or even highly expressed in CDgl3 ^bright than CDgl3 ^dim cells (FIG. 8D).

[0054] Hence, the expression of Abcg2 was also increased in astrocytes (D-NS5) compared to un-differentiated NSPC (NS5), supporting the low expression of Abcg2 in NSPCs (FIG. 9A). It was further confirmed that the involvement of Abcg2 transporter for CDgl3 staining by knockdown of Abcg2 using siRNA on D-NS5. After Abcg2 siRNA transfection to D-NS5 cells, Abcg2 was specifically suppressed around 23 % of control levels without any influence on the other two major ABC transporters, Abcbl and Abccl (FIG. 9B). In this condition, Abcg2 knockdown cells were strongly stained by CDgl3 (FIG. 9C). Quantification analysis showed CDgl3 staining was increased around 2-fold by the Abcg2 knockdown than the other controls (FIG. 9D).

[0055] Whether CDgl3 is also a substrate for human ABCG2 was tested by using ABCG2 overexpressed KB3-1 cell line (ABCG2/KB3-1). ABCG2/KB3-1 cells were poorly stained to CDgl3 as compared to wild-type KB3-1 (FIGS. 10A-B). However, neither staining with Hoechst 33342 nor Rhodaminel23, tracers for ABCB 1 (also known as P-glycoprotein) & ABCG2 and ABCB 1 respectively, was affected by overexpression of ABCG2 (FIGS. 10A-B). The uptake of CDgl3 through ABCG2 was further confirmed by inhibition of ABCG2 activity using Kol43 in ABCG2/KB3-1. The gradual increase of CDgl3 signal was observed in the range of 10 to 1,000 nM of Kol43 (FIG. IOC). Although this phenomenon was also observed in Hoechst 33342, the fold change in fluorescence intensity was largely elevated in CDgl3 (up to 4.2-fold) as compared to Hoechst 33342 (up to 1.3-fold) (FIG. IOC). As expected, fluorescence signal of Rhodaminel23 did not increase (FIG. IOC). The effect of ABCBl inhibition was also examined by using HCT-15, which was reported as the cell line retaining the highest level of human ABCBl among NCI-60 cell lines ⁵ . The treatment of 10 to 10,000 nM verapamil, an ABCBl inhibitor, enhanced staining of Rhodaminel23 (up to 4.0 fold) and Hoechst 33342 (up to 1.5 fold) (FIG. 10D). However, no changes were observed in CDgl3, unless treated with the highest amount of verapamil (1.5 fold induction in 10 μΜ of verapamil) (FIG. 10D). These suggest that CDgl3 has higher sensitivity and selectivity to human ABCG2 as compared to the well-known fluorescent probe, Hoechst 33342.

[0056] Currently, the chlorophyll catabolite, pheophorbide A (PhA) is the only ABCG2 specific fluorescent substrate ⁶ . When the response of the CDgl3, CDr3 and PhA was compared to ABCG2, CDgl3 showed higher sensitivity and produced more consistent data than PhA (FIG. 11). Moreover, the detection of the fluorescence of CDgl3 is easily accessible because of the use of standard fluorescein filter as compared to the specific spectrum of fluorescence for PhA

(Ae^em = 635/561 or 488/670 nm) ⁶ .

[0057] The toxicity of CDgl3 to both human and mouse cells through MTS assay was examined next. No toxicity was observed on human KB3-1 cells between 1 to 10 μΜ of CDgl3 during 48 h. Cells started dying at 50 μΜ of CDgl3, 50 times more concentrated than our working concentration (FIG. 12A). However, treatment with 1 μΜ of Hoechst 33342 resulted in a death rate of 25% and further increase to 10 μΜ resulted in 100% cell death. This means that CDgl3 has very low toxicity to cells under its working concentration. The effect of CDgl3 on the proliferation of mouse NSPCs was also tested. Co-incubation of mouse NSPCs with 1 μΜ of CDgl3 for 7 days showed no significant difference in neurosphere size, 106 versus 109 μπι on average for control and CDg 13 -containing neurospheres at third passage. This suggests that CDgl3 does not have any effect on the proliferation of NSPCs even in long-term culture condition (FIG. 12B). It was concluded that the ABCG2-specific fluorescent substrate, CDgl3, selectively stains a population of NSPCs having lower levels of Abcg2, and the NSPCs have higher capacity to form neurons. [0058] Reagents: All the chemicals and solvents were purchased from Sigma Aldrich, Alfa Aesar, Fluka, MERCK, Tocris or Acros, and used without further purification. Normal phase purifications were carried out using Merck Silica Gel 60 (particle size: 0.040-0.063 mm, 230-400 mesh). Analytical characterization was performed on a HPLC-MS (Agilent- 1200 series) with a DAD detector and a single quadrupole mass spectrometer (6130 series) with an ESI probe. 1H-

NMR and 13 C-NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker Avance 300 MHz NMR spectrometers, and chemical shifts are expressed in parts per million (ppm) and coupling constants are reported as a J value in Hertz (Hz). High resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) data was recorded on a Micro mass VG 7035 (Mass Spectrometry Laboratory at National University of Singapore (NUS)). Spectroscopic and quantum yield data were measured on spectroscopic measurements, performed on a fluorometer and UV/VIS instrument, Synergy 4 of Bioteck Company. The slit width was 1 nm for both excitation and emission, and the data analysis was performed using GraphPrism 5.0.

[0059] Cell Culture: Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were cultured on gelatin-coated culture plate with high-glucose DMEM supplemented with 20% ES FBS (v/v), 2 mM L- glutamine, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin, 0.1 mM non-essential amino acids, 0.1% β-mecaptoethanol (v/v) and 100 U/mL leukemia inhibitory factor (Chemicon). Mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) were obtained from El 4.5 mouse embryo removed brain and liver. The embryo were chopped into small pieces with scissors, and digested with trypsin/EDTA and DNase I (0.1 mg/ml, Roche diagnostic). The cells were plated in high-glucose DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS (v/v), 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin and 2 mM L- glutamine overnight. The attached MEF were passaged, and used within passage 4. NS5 cell was cultured in Euromed-N medium (Euroclone) supplemented with modified N2 supplements [apo-transferin (100 μg/ml, Sigma), sodium selenite (5.2 ng/ml, Sigma), progesterone (19.8 ng/ml, Sigma), putrescine (16 μg/ml, Sigma), insulin (25 μg/ml, Sigma), BSA (50.25 μg/ml)], 10 ng/ml bFGF, 10 ng/ml EGF, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin and 2 mM L- glutamine. Differentiation of NS5 cells into astrocytes were achieved by incubating the cells with 5% FBS-containing Euromed-N medium more than 3 days. Inhibitors of ABC transporters, verapamil, MK571, probenecid, elacridar and Kol43, were from Tocris. All the cell culture components were from Invitrogen unless otherwise indicated. [0060] High throughput screening using DOFLA: Screening of fluorescent probes of DOFL was conducted using high-throughput imaging analysis as previously described .

[0061] Probes Staining: Hoechst 33342 (2 μΜ) and CDgl3 (1 μΜ) were added to the cell culture medium. After incubation for 1 hour, culture media were changed with BSA-free medium to maintain CDgl3 staining. The organelle specific chemical probes, ER-TrackerTM Red, BODIPY® TR Ceramide, LysoTracker® Red DND-99 and MitoTracker® Deep Red FM, were used to stain endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome and mitochondria, respectively according to manufacturer's instructions (Molecular Probe). The subcellular staining was observed under confocal microscope and their co-localizations were analyzed by Pearson's Collection and Mander's overlap using NIS-Elements software of Eclipse Ti microscope (Nikon).

[0062] Primary Neurosphere Culture and Differentiation: All animal experiments were approved by the Biomedical Research Council Singapore, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). E14.5 embryos were obtained from C57BL/6 pregnant mice. Cerebral cortices were removed and triturated into single-cell suspension by digestion of dissected tissues with StemPro® Accutase® (Invitrogen) and filtered through 40 μπι nylon mesh. Dissociated cells were seeded at a density of 1 x 10 3 cells/cm 2 in neurosphere growth medium [DMEM/F12 supplemented with 2% B27 (without vitamin A), bFGF (10 ng/ml), EGF (20 ng/ml), lx anti- anti]. All the cell culture components were from Invitrogen. Passaging of neurosphere was conducted through single cell dissociation of neurospheres as described above. Single cells were then incubated with neurosphere growth medium at 37 °C, 5% C0 ₂ . Passaging was performed every 7 days after culture. For differentiation, poly-D-lysine (Sigma) coated culture surface were used to attach neurosphere. Differentiation was induced for 6 days using the medium containing DMEM/F12 supplemented with 5% FBS, lx B27 and lx anti-anti.

[0063] Confocal Microscopy: NS-5 cells stained with CDgl3, Hoechst33342 and/or organelle markers were observed using AlR+si confocal microscope (Nikon) within 1 hour after staining. The live NS-5 cells were loaded into a pre-heated plate with supplemented 5% C0 ₂ . Fast scanning less than 250 ms with 4 times scan were used to prevent phototoxicity onto the cells. [0064] Measurement of Neurosphere Number: For the counting of the number of neurosphere, we selected 6 days-cultured neurospheres having larger than 50 μπι of diameter. The whole neurospheres in a well were counted to reduce random counting error using EVOS microscope (Advanced Microscopy Group).

[0065] Flow Cytometry: Flow cytometry was performed using Attune Cytometer

(Invitrogen). Hoechest33342 (2 μΜ) and CDgl3 (ΙμΜ) are incubated with culture media for 1 hours and detached as single cells. The collected cells were suspended in BSA- and FBS-free DMEM to prevent loss of CDgl3 signal. The average fluorescence intensity of total cells in each experimental group was analyzed by Attune cytometer software for quantification study.

[0066] Isolation of CDgl3 ^{bri ht} neural stem cells: E14.5 embryos were obtained from C57BL/6 pregnant mice. Cerebral cortices were removed and triturated into single-cell suspension by digestion of dissected tissues with StemPro® Accutase® (Invitrogen) and filtered through 40 μπι nylon mesh. The brain cells were collected by centrifugation with 400 x g for 3 min and resuspended in neurosphere growth medium [DMEM/F12 supplemented with 2% B27 (without vitamin A), bFGF (10 ng/ml), EGF (20 ng/ml), lx anti-anti]. The cells were stained for 1 hour with 1 μΜ of CDgl3 in neurosphere growth medium. After collecting cells by centrifuge as described above, the cells were resuspended to BSA-free DMEM (phenol red free) and added propidium iodide (PI) at a concentration of 1 μg/ml to distinguish dead cells. FACS sorting was performed using the MoFlo XDP cell sorter (Beckman Coulter). Cells were sorted by pre-gating with FSC/SSC properties to exclude small debris having FSC ^low /SSC ^low . To isolate CDgl3 stained cell population, we used a 488 nm laser excitation and a 529/28 BP filter to collect emitted light. Dead cells stained by PI were detected with a 488 nm excitation and a 620/29 BP emission. We collected the cells having 10% highest CDgl3 signal (CDgl3 ^bnght ) and lower level of PI (PI ^dim ) population as illustrated in Figure 5 A. CD133/Prominin-l immunostaining were performed separately by incubating brain cells with CD133 antibody (Biolegend, 1:50) for 1 hour, followed by secondary antibody conjugated to Alexa Fluor 488 (Invitrogen) for 30 min. The same procedure were performed to isolate CD 133 -positive cells after the staining procedure of CDgl3. 20,000 cells of each group were collected into a tube filled with neurosphere growth medium. The cells were distributed to 6-well plate as duplicates, and cultured to form neurosphere at 37°C in 5% C0 ₂ . [0067] Immunofluorescence Staining and Analysis: More than a hundred of differentiated neurospheres were fixed in paraformaldehyde (4%, w/v) for 15 min, permeabilized in Triton X- 100 (0.1% v/v), and blocked with BSA (3% w/v) for 1 hour. Neurospheres were incubated with antibodies to Tujl/piII-tubulin (1 :500; Sigma, T5076) and GFAP (1: 1,000; DAKO, Z0334) overnight at 4°C. Alexa 488-conjugated anti-mouse IgG and Cy5-conjugated anti-rabbit IgG (Invitrogen) were used to detect Tuj 1 and GFAP, respectively. Nuclei were stained using Hoeschst33342 (1 μΜ) for 15 mins. Fluorescent images were obtained using Axio Observer microscope (Carl Zeiss). The existence of clear Tuj 1 positive cells inside a differentiated neurosphere were counted as neuron-contained neurospheres. Neuronal clumps were counted if more than 10 of nuclei of neuronal cells are packaged each other. Neurite outgrowth of Tuj 1 positive cells were measured using neurite outgrowth module parameter of MetaXpress

(Molecular Probe) with maximum width of 1 μιη. The phases with high neurite outgrowth were selected and counted at least 300 cells.

[0068] Quantitative Realtime-PCR (qRT-PCR): RNA was extracted from 100,000- 200,000 cells of live CDgl3 positive or negative population using RNeasy purification kit (Qiagen). cDNA were synthesized with 100-400 ng of total RNA using Oligo dT and Superscipt III reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen). qRT-PCR were conducted with SYBR Master Mix reagents (Applied Biosystems). The expression of genes was normalized to β-actin gene expression. The information of primer sequences are as follows.

SEQ ID

Gene name Dir. Sequence Target Gene ID Size

NO

Nestin F TGCTAGCCCTGCCTGTCTAC 1 5975 NM_ _. 016701.3 73

R CATCATTGCTGCTCCTCTGGG 2 6047

Hesl F ACACCGGACAAACCAAAGAC 3 304 NM_ _. 008235.2 147

R ATGCCGGGAGCTATCTTTCT 4 450

Fabp7 F GCTTTCTGCGCAACCTGGAA 5 96 NM_ _. 021272.3 87

R TTGCCTAGTGGCAAAGCCCA 6 182

NeuroDl F AGCGAGTCATGAGTGCCCAG 7 100 NM_ _. 010894.2 86

R GCACAGTGGATTCGTTTCCCG 8 185

Abcal F TACAGTGGCGGCAACAAACG 9 6453 NM_ _. 013454.3 106

R GGGCTTTAGGGTCCATGCCT 10 6558

Abca2 F GTCTCGGAAGATTGGCCGGA 11 6276 NM_ _. 007379.2 82

R ACCAAGGAGCCCAAAGCACT 12 6357

Abca3 F TGCTGCCCACTACTGCAAGA 13 4324 NM_ _. 001039581.2 105

R CCTGAGGCAGCCATGGAAGT 14 4428

Abcbla F GGAGGCCAACATCCACCAGT 15 3575 NM_ _. 011076.2 136 R GTGAGGCTGTCTGACGAGGG 16 3710

Abcblb F TGGCAAAGCCGGAGAGATCC 17 2474 NM_ _. 011075.2 115

R GGTCAGTGAGCCAGTGCTGT 18 2588

Abccl F CCCACCCTTGGGTCTGGTTT 19 3386 NM_ _. 008576.3 77

R ACTCCAGGCGCTTCAGTTGT 20 3462

Abcg2 F TCACCTTACTGGCTTCCGGG 21 1220 NM_ _. 011920.3 107

R CGCAGGGTTGTTGTAGGGCT 22 1326

Actin, beta F ACCAACTGGGACGACATGGAGAAG 23 308 NM_ _. 007393.3 214

R TACGACCAGAGGCATACAGGGACA 24 521

[0069] Western Blot Analysis: Differentiated neurospheres were washed with PBS and lysed in CellLyticTM M Cell Lysis Reagent (Sigma) containing PierceTM Protease and

Phosphatase Inhibitor tablet (Thermo Scientific). Total proteins (20-30 μg) were separated by SDS-PAGE, and transferred to Immobilon®-FL PVDF membranes (Millipore). Membranes were incubated with Tuj 1 (1:5,000) or β-actin (1:5,000; Santa Cruz, sc-47778), followed by incubation with Alexa 647-conjugated secondary antibodies (1: 10,000). Protein bands were visualized using Typhoon 9400 Imager (GE Healthcare) and quantified with ImageQuant TL (GE Healthcare).

[0070] siRNA Transfection: siRNAs targeted to mouse ABCG2 gene and non-targeted control (Santa Cruz) were transiently introduced to 2 days differentiated NS-5 cells by using RNAiMAX (Invitrogen). We used 20 nM of siRNA and 3 μΐ of RNAiMAX for transfecting one well of 12-well plate (70-80% confluence with cells). Transfection efficiency in the condition was more than 90% as measured by fluorescence non-targeted siRNA. The levels of RNA and their analysis were performed after 3 days of transfection.

DEFINITIONS

[0071] All definitions of substituents set forth below are further applicable to the use of the term in conjunction with another substituent.

[0072] The term "alkyl," as used herein, refers to both a saturated aliphatic branched or straight-chain monovalent hydrocarbon radical having the specified number of carbon atoms. For instance, "(C1-C6) alkyl" means a radical having from 1-6 carbon atoms in a linear or branched arrangement. Examples of "(C1-C6) alkyl" include, for example, n-propyl, i-propyl, n- butyl, i-butyl, sec -butyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, 2-methylbutyl, 2-methylpentyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 3-methylpentyl, and 4-methylpentyl. Alkyl can be optionally substituted with halogen, -OH, oxo, (Cl-C6)alkyl, (Cl-C6)alkoxy, (C1-C6) alkoxy(Cl-C4)alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, carbocyclyl, nitro, cyano, amino, acylamino, or carbamyl, -C(O)O(Cl-C10)alkyl, or - C(O)(Cl-C10)alkyl.

[0073] The term "cycloalkyl," as used herein, refers to saturated aliphatic cyclic hydrocarbon ring. Thus, "(C3-C8) cycloalkyl", for example, means (3-8 membered) saturated aliphatic cyclic hydrocarbon ring. (C3-C8) cycloalkyl includes, but is not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, or cyclooctyl. Cycloalkyl can be optionally substituted in the same manner as alkyl, described above.

[0074] The term "amino," as used herein, refers to a primary (-NH2), secondary (-NHRx), or tertiary (-NRxRy) group, wherein Rx and Ry is any alkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl or alkenylene, each optionally and independently substituted with one or more substituents described herein. The Rx and Ry substituents may be taken together to form a "ring," wherein the "ring," as used herein, is cyclic amino groups such as piperidine and pyrrolidine, and may include heteroatoms such as in morpholine, and may be optionally substituted in the same manner as alkyl, described above. The terms "alkylamino," "alkenylamino," or "alkynylamino" as used herein, refer to an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or an alkynyl group, as defined herein, substituted with an amino group.

[0075] The term "alkenyl," as used herein, refers to a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. Thus, "(C2-C6) alkenyl", for example, means a radical having 2-6 carbon atoms in a linear or branched arrangement having one or more double bonds. Examples of alkenyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, butadienyl, pentadienyl, hexadienyl groups, and the like. The one or more carbon-carbon double bonds can be internal (such as in 2-butene) or terminal (such as in 1- butene).

[0076] The term "alkynyl," as used herein, refers to a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds. Thus, "(C2-C6) alkynyl", for example, means a radical having 2-6 carbon atoms in a linear or branched arrangement having one or more triple bonds. Examples of alkynyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, pentynyl, and the like. The one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds can be internal (such as in 2- butyne) or terminal (such as in 1-butyne).

[0077] The term "alkoxy", as used herein, refers to an "alkyl-O-" group, wherein alkyl is defined above. Examples of alkoxy group include methoxy or ethoxy groups.

[0078] The terms "halogen" or "halo," as used herein, refer to fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.

[0079] The term "aryl," as used herein, refers to an aromatic monocyclic or polycyclic (e.g. bicyclic or tricyclic) carbocyclic ring system. Thus, "(C6-C18) aryl", for example, is a 6-18 membered monocylic or polycyclic system. Aryl systems include optionally substituted groups such as phenyl, biphenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl, anthracenyl, pyrenyl, fluoranthyl or fluorenyl. An aryl can be optionally substituted. Examples of suitable substituents on an aryl include halogen, hydroxyl, (CI -CI 2) alkyl, (C2-C6) alkenyl, (C2-C6) alkynyl, (C1-C6) haloalkyl, (Cl- C3) alkylamino, (C1-C3) dialkylamino (C1-C6) alkoxy, (C6-C18) aryloxy, (C6-C18) arylamino, (C6-C18) aryl, (C6-C18) haloaryl, (5-12 atom) heteroaryl, -N02, -CN, -OF3 and oxo.

[0080] In some embodiments, a (C6-C18) aryl is phenyl, indenyl, naphthyl, azulenyl, heptalenyl, biphenyl, indacenyl, acenaphthylenyl, fluorenyl, phenalenyl, phenanthrenyl, anthracenyl, cyclopentacyclooctenyl or benzocyclooctenyl. In some embodiments, a (C6-C18) aryl is phenyl, naphthalene, anthracene, lH-phenalene, tetracene, and pentacene.

[0081] The term "heteroaryl," as used herein, refers aromatic groups containing one or more atoms is a heteroatom (O, S or N). A heteroaryl group can be monocyclic or polycyclic, e.g., a monocyclic heteroaryl ring fused to one or more carbocyclic aromatic groups or other monocyclic heteroaryl groups. The heteroaryl groups of this invention can also include ring systems substituted with one or more oxo moieties. Examples of heteroaryl groups include, but are not limited to, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, imidazolyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, pyrazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, tetrazolyl, furyl, thienyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrrolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, cinnolinyl, indazolyl, indolizinyl, phthalazinyl, pyridazinyl, triazinyl, isoindolyl, purinyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, furazanyl, benzofurazanyl, benzothiophenyl, benzotriazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, dihydroquinolyl, tetrahydroquinolyl, dihydroisoquinolyl, tetrahydroisoquinolyl, benzofuryl, furopyridinyl, pyrolopyrimidinyl, and azaindolyl.

[0082] In other embodiments, a 5-20-membered heteroaryl group is pyridyl, 1 -oxo-pyridyl, furanyl, benzo[ l,3]dioxolyl, benzo[l,4]dioxinyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, a isoxazolyl, quinolinyl, pyrazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, a triazinyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl, isoquinolinyl, indazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzofuryl, indolizinyl, imidazopyridyl, tetrazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzoxadiazolyl, indolyl, tetrahydroindolyl, azaindolyl, imidazopyridyl, quinazolinyl, purinyl,

pyrrolo[2,3]pyrimidinyl, pyrazolo[3,4]pyrimidinyl, imidazo[ l,2-a]pyridyl, benzothienyl.

[0083] The term "haloalkyl," as used herein, includes an alkyl substituted with one or more F, CI, Br, or I, wherein alkyl is defined above.

[0084] The term "haloaryl," as used herein, includes an aryl substituted with one or more F, CI, Br, or I, wherein aryl is defined above.

[0085] The term "hetero," as used herein, refers to the replacement of at least one carbon atom member in a ring system with at least one heteroatom selected from N, S or O. "Hetero" also refers to the replacement of at least one carbon atom member in an acyclic system. A hetero ring system or a hetero acyclic system may have 1, 2, or 3 carbon atom members replaced by a heteroatom.

[0086] The terms "heterocycle" or "heterocyclyl" or "heterocyclic," as used herein, refer to a saturated or unsaturated group having a single ring or multiple condensed rings, from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and from 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen. In fused ring systems, one or more of the rings can be aryl or heteroaryl, provided that the point of attachment is at the heterocyclyl. Heterocyclyl can be unsubstituted or substituted in accordance with cycloalkyl.

[0087] The term "oxo," as used herein, refers to =0. When an oxo group is a substituent on a carbon atom, they form a carbonyl group (C(O)).

[0088] The term "nitro," as used herein, refers to -N0 ₂ .

[0089] The term "nitrile," as used herein, refers to -C≡N.

[0090] The term "pyridyl," as used herein, refers to -C ₅ H ₄ N, wherein the location of the nitrogen atom in the ring may vary. [0091] The term "4-5 member polycyclyl" is a cyclic compound with 4-5 hydrocarbon loop or ring structures (e.g., benzene rings). The term generally includes all polycyclic aromatic compounds, including the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the heterocyclic aromatic compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or another non-carbon atoms, and substituted derivatives of these. A polycyclyl can be fused to another ring to create a fused bicyclic or polycyclic system. An example of a ring substituted with a 4-5 member polycyclyl includes, for example:

wherein ^ represents a point of attachment between two atoms.

[0092] The term "target cell," as used herein, refers to any cell in which visualization is desired. An example of a target cell is neural stem cell. In an example embodiment, the neural stem cell has a low level of Abcg2.

REFERENCES

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[0099] 7. Yun SW, et al. (2012) Neural stem cell specific fluorescent chemical probe binding to FABP7. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 109(26): 10214-10217. [00100] The teachings of all patents, published applications and references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[00101] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.