A rapid method for measuring intracellular pH using BCECF-AM

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 1572; no. 1; pp. 143 - 148
• Main Authors: Ozkan, Pinar, Mutharasan, Raj
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.08.2002
• Subjects: Alkaline Phosphatase - biosynthesis; Alkaline Phosphatase - chemistry; Ammonium chloride challenge; Animals; BCECF; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured - chemistry; Chinese hamster ovary cell; CHO Cells; Cricetinae; Fluoresceins; Fluorescent Dyes; Genetic Vectors; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Indicators and Reagents; Insect cell; Intracellular pH; Rapid measurement methodology; Reproducibility of Results; Spodoptera; Intracellular pH; Ammonium chloride challenge; pH i; BCECF; Sf9; Rapid measurement methodology; Chinese hamster ovary cell; CHO; Insect cell; BCECF-AM
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 0006-3002; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-4165(02)00303-3

A rapid intracellular pH (pH i) measurement method based on initial rate of increase of fluorescence ratio of 2′,7′-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein upon dye addition to a cell suspension in growth medium is reported. A dye transport model that describes dye concentration and fluorescence values in intracellular and extracellular spaces provides the mathematical basis for the approach. Experimental results of ammonium chloride challenge response of the two suspension cells, Spodoptera frugiperda and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, successfully compared with results obtained using traditional perfusion method. Since the cell suspension does not require any preparation, measurement of pH i can be completed in about 1 min minimizing any potential errors due to dye leakage.