title: Excitation wavelengths for fura 2 provide a linear relationship between [Ca(2+)] and fluorescence ratio.
abstract: We proposed and tested the use of nontraditional excitation wavelengths (lambda(1) and lambda(2)) and an emission wavelength (lambda(em)) to define conditions under which free calcium concentration and a fluorescence ratio are linearly related. Fluorescence spectra were determined for aqueous solutions that contained 25 microM fura 2, 125 mM K(+), and either 0 mM or 0.1 mM Ca(2+). Effectively linear relationships between [Ca(2+)] and a fluorescence ratio, i.e., <5% bias when [Ca(2+)] </= 5 x dissociation constant, were apparent when lambda(1) >/= 400 nm, lambda(2) </= 370 nm, and lambda(em) >/= 510 nm. Combinations with longer lambda(1) and lambda(em) and/or with shorter lambda(2) reduced this bias further. Although the method described does not obviate the complications that surround the correction for fluorescence background, choosing a nontraditional combination of excitation and emission wavelengths offers several practical advantages over more traditional fura 2 fluorescence methodologies in a variety of experimental settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry*; D016257:Fura-2 / Q000737:chemistry*; D016014:Linear Models; D008956:Models, Chemical; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2