Open AccessReal‐time visualization of calcium ion activity in shallow benthic foraminiferal cells using the fluorescent indicator Fluo‐3 AM
Author(s) -
Toyofuku Takashi,
Jan de Nooijer Lennart,
Yamamoto Hiroyuki,
Kitazato Hiroshi
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.928
H-Index - 136
ISSN - 1525-2027
DOI - 10.1029/2007gc001772
Subject(s) - seawater , calcium , benthic zone , foraminifera , calcite , fluorescence , artificial seawater , geology , mineralogy , chemistry , oceanography , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Calcium ion storage and movements within foraminiferal cells were observed using the fluorescent cell‐permeant calcium indicator Fluo‐3 AM. Living specimens of the shallow‐water benthic foraminifer Ammonia beccarii were incubated with 8 μ M Fluo‐3 AM in both natural seawater and calcium‐free artificial seawater. No fluorescence was observed in specimens that were incubated in Fluo‐3 AM/calcium‐free seawater, while fluorescent emission was identified in all foraminifera that were incubated in Fluo‐3 AM/natural seawater. In another series of experiments, juvenile specimens were incubated with Fluo‐3 AM to trace calcium ion activity during the process of chamber formation. The method described here is a potential tool to observe the flow of calcium ions within living foraminiferal cells and may yield valuable information on the process of calcite precipitation.