Measurement of intracellular Ca2+ concentration in single cells using ratiometric calcium dyes.

Measurement of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) is useful to study the upstream and downstream events of Ca(2+) signaling. Ca(2+)-binding proteins including EF-hand-containing proteins are important downstream effector molecules after an increase of [Ca(2+)](i). Conversely, these proteins can also act as key modulators for regulation of [Ca(2+)](i) by sensing the Ca(2+) levels in the intracellular organelles and cytoplasm. Here we describe a single-cell Ca(2+) imaging technique that was used to measure the intracellular Ca(2+) levels to examine the function of Ca(2+)-binding proteins, STIM1 and Calcium release-activated Calcium channel regulator 2A (CRACR2A), using ratiometric Ca(2+) dye Fura-2 in adherent and non-adherent cells.