Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 1
A Practical Guide to the Preparation of
Ca
2
þ
Bu
ers
V
*Department of Pharmacology
University of California, Davis
School of Medicine Davis, California, USA
†
Hopkins Marine Station
Stanford University, Pacific Grove
California, USA
‡
BioElectroMed Corp.
Burlingame, California, USA
Abstract
I. Introduction
II. Rationale
A. Which Ca
2
þ
Bu
V
er Should You Use?
B. EGTA: The Workhorse of Biological Ca
2
þ
Chelators
C. BAPTA Family of Ca
2
þ
Bu
V
ers
III. Methods
A. Basic Mathematical Relationships
B. Temperature, Ionic Strength, and pH Corrections
IV. Materials
A. [Ca
2
þ
] Measurement and Calibration Solutions
B. Preparing Bu
V
er Solution
C. Software Programs
V. Discussion and Summary
References
Abstract
Calcium (Ca
2
þ
) is a critical regulator of an immense array of biological
processes, and the intracellular [Ca
2
þ
] that regulates these processes is
10,000
lower than the extracellular [Ca
2
þ
]. To study and understand these myriad Ca
2
þ
-
dependent functions requires control and measurement of [Ca
2
þ
] in the nano- to
micromolar range (where contaminating Ca
2
þ
is a significant problem). As with
