| Abstract: | The luminescence of aequorin, a useful tool for studying intracellular Ca2+, was recently found to be inhibited by the free EDTA and EGTA that are present in calcium buffers. In the present study we have examined the effect of the free forms of various chelators in the calibration of Ca2+] with aequorin. Free EDTA and EGTA in low-ionic-strength solutions strongly inhibited the Ca2+-triggered luminescence of aequorin, causing large errors in the calibration of Ca2+] (approx. 2 pCa units), whereas in solutions containing 150mM-KCl, errors were relatively small (0.2-0.3 pCa units). Citric acid in low-ionic-strength solutions and (carbamoylmethyl)imino]diacetic acid in high-ionic-strength solutions showed no inhibition and did not cause detectable error in the calibration of Ca2+], indicating that they are better chelators than EDTA and EGTA for use with aequorin. |
