Ca2+ on Demand: When You Need It, and Exactly How Much You Need
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Daniel Fologea (Mentor), Boise State University
Abstract
Ca2+ ions play important physiological roles in a large variety of biological and biochemical processes such as signal transduction, neurotransmission, muscle contraction, enzyme activation, and bone formation. Therefore, the ability to control the Ca2+ concentration in vitro and in vivo is important not only for a better understanding of physiological processes, but also for a large variety of biological and bioengineering applications. In this respect, this work is focused on investigating the reversible, controlled release of Ca2+ ions upon light excitation. Our exploration employed a photolabile Ca2+ cage, DM-Nitrophen, which is a UV-controlled Ca2+ chelator. The experimental system consisted of solutions of Ca2+ ions, Ca2+-cage (DM-Nitrophen), a Ca2+ indicator (Fluo 3), a fluorometer, and UV excitation sources (365 nm LEDs). Our results show that UV excitation enables an exquisite control over reversible Ca2+ release and that the amount of released Ca2+ can be modulated by adjusting the UV intensity. This triggered release may be further exploited for any applications that require a precise control of Ca2+ in solutions, including drug delivery.
Ca2+ on Demand: When You Need It, and Exactly How Much You Need
Ca2+ ions play important physiological roles in a large variety of biological and biochemical processes such as signal transduction, neurotransmission, muscle contraction, enzyme activation, and bone formation. Therefore, the ability to control the Ca2+ concentration in vitro and in vivo is important not only for a better understanding of physiological processes, but also for a large variety of biological and bioengineering applications. In this respect, this work is focused on investigating the reversible, controlled release of Ca2+ ions upon light excitation. Our exploration employed a photolabile Ca2+ cage, DM-Nitrophen, which is a UV-controlled Ca2+ chelator. The experimental system consisted of solutions of Ca2+ ions, Ca2+-cage (DM-Nitrophen), a Ca2+ indicator (Fluo 3), a fluorometer, and UV excitation sources (365 nm LEDs). Our results show that UV excitation enables an exquisite control over reversible Ca2+ release and that the amount of released Ca2+ can be modulated by adjusting the UV intensity. This triggered release may be further exploited for any applications that require a precise control of Ca2+ in solutions, including drug delivery.