PbQ 

PbQ is a tubulin inhibitor (with an IC₅₀ of 5 μM against goat tubulin) and a fluorescent probe for cuprous ions Cu (I). PbQ can penetrate the membrane of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, form a stable 1:1 complex with Cu⁺ ions, and exhibits low toxicity and good biocompatibility toward macrophage cell lines. In addition, PbQ promotes tubulin degradation and disrupts the microtubule network in lung epithelial cells without affecting actin. PbQ also possesses genotoxicity by forming DNA base adducts, and it can activate caspase-3 and apoptosis-related genes, induce loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and trigger cell apoptosis. PbQ can be used in studies related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease^[1][2].

PbQ (2.5-50 μM; 24 h) reduces the viability of human type II pulmonary epithelial (A549) cells in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC₅₀ of 5-10 μM^[1].
PbQ (5-10 μM; 24 h) disrupts cell cycle progression in human type II pulmonary epithelial (A549) cells, causing a dose-dependent accumulation of cells in the sub-G₀/G₁ phase, accompanied by decreased proportions of cell populations in the G₀/G₁ and G₂/M phases^[1].
PbQ (10 μM; 6-24 h) induces time-dependent apoptosis in human type II pulmonary epithelial (A549) cells and also triggers nuclear DNA fragmentation^[1].
PbQ (5-10 μM; 24 h) induces dose-dependent release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm in human type II pulmonary epithelial (A549) cells^[1].
PbQ (10 μM; 24 h) induces specific degradation of α-tubulin (without affecting β-actin) in human type II pulmonary epithelial (A549) cells, and this effect occurs after 24 h of treatment with 10 μM PbQ^[1].
When co-incubated with Cu⁺ ions, PbQ (250 μM; 24 h) exhibits high biocompatibility with RAW 264.7 macrophages, maintaining approximately 80% cell viability after incubation at 250 μM for 24 h^[2].
PbQ (10 μM; 1 h) can penetrate the cell membrane of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and after exposure to Cu ^(I) ions (10 μM CuCl; 30 min), it exhibits a unique, selective, and highly enhanced fluorescence response in PBMCs, enabling the visualization of labile intracellular Cu ^(I) ions^[2].

MedChemExpress (MCE) has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

386.45

C₂₆H₁₈N₄

2693397-68-9

C1(/C=N/C2=CC=CC3=C2N=CC=C3)=C(C=CC=C1)/C=N/C4=CC=CC5=C4N=CC=C5

Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere.

Please store the product under the recommended conditions in the Certificate of Analysis.

• [1]. Das A, et al. 1,4-Benzoquinone (PBQ) induced toxicity in lung epithelial cells is mediated by the disruption of the microtubule network and activation of caspase-3. Chem Res Toxicol. 2010;23(6):1054-1066.

  [2]. Farhi A, et al. A quinoline-based fluorescent probe for selective detection and real-time monitoring of copper ions - a differential colorimetric approach. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2019;18(12):3008-3015.