Calcium Imaging of Non-adherent Cells

Publication Name

Methods in Molecular Biology

Abstract

Live-cell imaging can reveal dynamic and multimodal cell signaling by monitoring calcium flux. Spatiotemporal changes in Ca2+ concentrations instigate specific downstream processes and by categorizing these events, we can examine the language cells use to communicate both to themselves and with each other. Thus, calcium imaging is an understandably popular and versatile technique that relies on high-resolution optical data as measured by fluorescence intensity. This is executed with relative ease on adherent cells, as changes in fluorescence intensity can be monitored over time in fixed regions of interest. However, perfusion of non-adherent or mildly adherent cells leads to their mechanical displacement thereby hindering the spatial resolution of fluorescence intensity changes through time. Here we provide details of a simple and cost-effective protocol using gelatin to prevent cell dislodgement during the solution exchanges that occur during recording.

Open Access Status

This publication is not available as open access

Volume

2644

First Page

361

Last Page

369

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3052-5_23