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AAT Bioquest

What buffers should be used for flow calcium assays?

Posted February 2, 2024


Answer

Calcium buffers, such as parvalbumins (α and β isoforms), calbindin-D9k, calbindin-D28k, and calretinin, serve as essential components in the control of calcium signaling and calcium balance within cells. Beyond their roles in buffering calcium ions, some of these proteins may also function as calcium sensors. Buffers play a crucial role in precisely regulating calcium signaling and maintaining Ca2+ balance within cells. Each cell possesses proteins like Ca2+ channels, pumps and transporters. When choosing a Ca2+, the key factor to consider is selecting one with a dissociation constant (Kd) that closely matches the target free (Ca2+). This ensures the buffer effectively interacts with calcium ions at the specific target concentration. PBS is another buffer that can be used for these assays. It is a balanced salt solution used for maintaining pH

Additional resources

The Effect of Calcium Buffering and Calcium Sensor Type on the Sensitivity of an Array-Based Bitter Receptor Screening Assay

Calcium Indicators

Cal-520®, AM