A new generation of Ca2+ indicators with greatly improved fluorescence properties.

G Grynkiewicz, M Poenie, RY Tsien - Journal of biological chemistry, 1985 - ASBMB
A new family of highly fluorescent indicators has been synthesized for biochemical studies of
the physiological role of cytosolic free Ca2+. The compounds combine an 8-coordinate
tetracarboxylate chelating site with stilbene chromophores. Incorporation of the ethylenic
linkage of the stilbene into a heterocyclic ring enhances the quantum efficiency and
photochemical stability of the fluorophore. Compared to their widely used predecessor,"
quin2", the new dyes offer up to 30-fold brighter fluorescence, major changes in wavelength …