Fluorophore-Based Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uptake Assay

The physiological importance of mitochondrial calcium uptake, observed in processes such as ATP production, intracellular calcium signaling, and apoptosis, makes desirable a simple, straightforward way of investigating this event with unambiguous results. The following protocol uses a calcium-sensitive, membrane-impermeable fluorophore to monitor extra-mitochondrial calcium levels in the presence of permeabilized mammalian cells harboring activated mitochondria.