Conversion of esterified fura-2 and indo-1 to Ca2+-sensitive forms by mitochondria.

Rat liver mitochondria are shown to convert the acetoxymethyl ester forms of fura-2 and indo-1 into Ca2+-dependent forms of these indicators. The excitation spectrum of the Ca2+-dependent conversion product of fura-2 acetoxymethyl ester is shown to be similar to that of the pentacarboxylic acid form of fura-2. A systematic investigation of the ionic strength and pH dependences of the fluorescence of the pentacarboxylic acid forms of these indicators shows small changes within the ranges thought to obtain within the mitochondrial matrix after Ca2+ uptake. Intramitochondrial free Ca2+ levels are studied both before and after Ca2+ sequestration by mitochondria, and a rough estimate is made of the mitochondrial contribution to the Ca2+-dependent fura-2 fluorescence of a hepatocyte suspension.