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Imaging Mitochondrial Calcium Fluxes with Fluorescent Probes and Single- or Two-Photon Confocal Microscopy

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Mitochondrial Bioenergetics

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1782))

Abstract

The concentration of calcium ions in the mitochondria has been shown to affect its function, modulating respiratory activity at low levels and causing lethal damage at high concentrations. The rhodamine series of dyes can be used to measure mitochondrial calcium concentration, but the reliability of measurements depends upon correct partitioning of the dye within to the mitochondria. Methods are described to aid verification and quantification of the mitochondrial calcium concentration using single- or two-photon confocal microscopy. The method of linear unmixing to separate fluorescent signals based on either differing excitation or emission spectra is outlined and for the purposes of illustration is applied to the separation of rhod-2 signals originating from the dye within the mitochondria and nucleoli.

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Correspondence to Michael R. Duchen .

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Davidson, S.M., Duchen, M.R. (2018). Imaging Mitochondrial Calcium Fluxes with Fluorescent Probes and Single- or Two-Photon Confocal Microscopy. In: Palmeira, C., Moreno, A. (eds) Mitochondrial Bioenergetics. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1782. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7831-1_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7831-1_10

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7830-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7831-1

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