Fine structural detection of calcium ions by photoconversion

<p>We propose a tool for a rapid high-resolution detection of calcium ions which can be used in parallel with other techniques. We have applied a new approach by  photo-oxidation of diaminobenzidine in presence of the emission of an excited fluorochrome specific for calcium detection. This met...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: V. Poletto, V. Galimberti, G. Guerra, V. Rosti, F. Moccia, M. Biggiogera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PAGEPress Publications 2016-08-01
Series:European Journal of Histochemistry
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ejh.it/index.php/ejh/article/view/2695
Description
Summary:<p>We propose a tool for a rapid high-resolution detection of calcium ions which can be used in parallel with other techniques. We have applied a new approach by  photo-oxidation of diaminobenzidine in presence of the emission of an excited fluorochrome specific for calcium detection. This method combines the selectivity of available fluorophores to the high spatial resolution offered by transmission electron microscopy to detect even fluorescing molecules even when present in low amounts in membrane-bounded organelles. We show in this paper that Mag-Fura 2 photoconversion <em>via</em> diaminobenzidine oxidation is an efficient way for localizing Ca<sup>2+ </sup>ions at EM level, is easily carried out and reproducible, and can be obtained on a good amount of cells, since the exposition in our conditions is not limited to the direct irradiation of the sample via an objective but obtained with a germicide lamp. The end product is sufficiently electron dense to be detected clearly when present in sufficient amount within a membrane boundary.</p>
ISSN:1121-760X
2038-8306