The protamine capped gold nanoclusters (AuNCs@PRT) were synthesized by an one-pot approach, and utilized as a nanoprobe for highly sensitive and selective assay of U(VI) ions. The method is based on the aggregation induced fluorescent quenching of AuNCs@PRT by U(VI) ions. Under optimum conditions, the decrease of fluorescence intensity displayed a good linear correlation with the concentration of U(VI) ions ranging from 20.4nM to 9.74muM, with a detection limit of 6.1nM. The relative standard deviations were 3.86%, 1.41% and 1.71% via 11 detections at concentrations of 40nM, 0.40muM and 4.0muM...