Sensitive cell-based assay for determination of intracellular calcium.

• Simple procedure, takes ~ 2 hours
• Fast and convenient
• The assay is sensitive, stable, specific and high-throughput adaptable
• The kit can visualize intracellular calcium content in suspension and/or adherent cells

Calcium is essential for all living organisms. Calcium sequestration and release into the cytoplasm function as a signal for many cellular processes. As an important second messenger, calcium is involved in many physiological processes such as nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, etc. Intracellular calcium is mainly stored in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, and its concentration in cytosol is tightly regulated. Dysfunction of calcium homeostasis causes oxidative stress, cell death and pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.

EZCell™ calcium staining kit that contains membrane permeable, intracellular calcium probe. Upon cell entry, the calcium probe is hydrolyzed by intracellular esterases rendering it membrane impermeable. The cleaved calcium probe binds to intracellular calcium generating fluorescence. The intensity of fluorescence is directly proportional to intracellular calcium levels. A Positive Control reagent is also provided, and serves as experimental control, which elevates intracellular Calcium levels resulting in increased calcium staining. This easy-to-use, non-radioactive kit allows studying the regulation of calcium at the cellular level by using Fluorescence Microscopy and Flow Cytometry in cultured cells.