Fluo-4 AM - Packaged For High-Throughput Screening

Q: I am doing calcium flux imaging with your Fura-2 calibration kit, but am seeing a large variability in ratio in different places around the slide. I am correcting for uniform illumination, using the product as directed, and sealing the coverslip with nail polish.

The nail polish may be the problem. The K d value (calcium sensitivity) changes depending upon the dye's environment. Nail polish has solvents that can leech under the coverslip and cause variability. We recommend either going without a sealing or sealing with melted paraffin painted on the coverslip edges with a cotton-tipped applicator (paraffin is hydrophobic and has no solvents). Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center .

Fluo-4 AM - Packaged For High-Throughput Screening - FAQs

View additional product information for Fluo-4 AM - Packaged For High-Throughput Screening - FAQs (F14202)

3 product FAQs found

Can I fix my cells after loading with Fluo-4 AM dye for the detection of calcium?

No. Since Fluo-4 AM isn't covalently bound to any cellular components and fixation compromises the membrane, the dye would not be retained by the cell.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.

I am doing calcium flux imaging with your Fura-2 calibration kit, but am seeing a large variability in ratio in different places around the slide. I am correcting for uniform illumination, using the product as directed, and sealing the coverslip with nail polish.

The nail polish may be the problem. The K_d value (calcium sensitivity) changes depending upon the dye's environment. Nail polish has solvents that can leech under the coverslip and cause variability. We recommend either going without a sealing or sealing with melted paraffin painted on the coverslip edges with a cotton-tipped applicator (paraffin is hydrophobic and has no solvents).

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.

I need to label cells with Fluo-4, AM, for a calcium flux assay. How long after labeling will the dye be retained?

After loading dye into the cells, intracellular esterases remove the 'AM' moiety from the dye. When the 'AM' group is removed, the dye is able to bind calcium and fluoresce. Since the dye is not covalently bound to any cellular components, it may be actively effluxed from the cell. The rate of efflux is dependent upon the inherent properties of the cell, culture conditions and other factors. The dye may be retained for hours, days or even weeks or lost in a matter of minutes. The use of Probenecid (Cat. No. P36400) limits loss by active efflux.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.