Skip to main content

Imaging Ca2+ Signals in Xenopus Oocytes

  • Protocol
Xenopus Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 322))

Abstract

Xenopus oocytes have become a favored preparation in which to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of intracellular Ca2+ signaling. Advantages of the oocyte as a model cell system include its large size, lack of intracellular Ca2+ release channels other than the type 1 inositol trisphosphate receptor, and ease of expression of foreign receptors and channels. We describe the use of high-resolution fluorescence imaging techniques to visualize Ca2+ signals in Xenopus oocytes at levels ranging from global Ca2+ waves to single-channel Ca2+ microdomains.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Parys, J. B., Sernett, S. W., DeLisle, S., Snyder, P. M., Welsh, M. J., and Campbell, K. P. (1992) Isolation, characterization, and localization of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor protein in Xenopus laevis oocytes. J. Biol. Chem. 267, 18,776–18,782.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Lechleiter, J. D. and Clapham, D. E. (1992) Spiral waves and intracellular calcium signalling. J. Physiol. Paris. 86, 123–128.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Parker, I., Choi, J., and Yao, Y. (1996) Elementary events of InsP3-induced Ca2+ liberation in Xenopus oocytes: hot spots, puffs and blips. Cell Calcium 20, 105–121.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Sumikawa, K., Parker, I., and Miledi, R. (1989) Expression of neurotransmitter receptors and voltage-activated channels from brain mRNA in Xenopus oocytes. Methods Neurosci. 1, 30–44.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dascal, N. (1987) The use of Xenopus oocytes for the study of ion channels. CRC Crit. Rev. Biochem. 22, 317–387.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Dumont, J. N. (1972) Oogenesis in Xenopus laevis. Stages of oocyte development in laboratory maintained animals. J. Morphol. 136, 153–164.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Tsein, R. Y. (1980) New calcium indicators and buffers with high selectivity against magnesium and photons: design, synthesis and properties of prototype structures. Biochemistry 19, 2396–2404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Tsein, R. Y. (1992) Intracellular signal transduction in four dimensions: from molecular design to physiology. Am. J. Physiol. 263, C723–C728.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Thomas, D., Tovey, S. C, Collins, T. J., Bootman, M. D., Berridge, M. J., and Lipp, P. (2000) A comparison of the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator properties and their use in measuring elementary and global Ca2+ signals. Cell Calcium 28, 213–223.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. John, L. M., Mosquera-Caro, M., Camacho, P., and Lechleiter, J. D. (2001) Control of IP3-mediated Ca2+ puffs in Xenopus laevis oocytes by the Ca2+-binding protein parvalbumin. J. Physiol. 535.1, 3–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Pawley, J. B. (ed.) (1995) Handbook of Biological Confocal Microscopy, Plenum Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Callamaras, N. and Parker, 1.(1999) Construction of a confocal microscope for real-time x–y and x–z imaging. Cell Calcium 26, 271–279.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Callamaras. N. and Parker, I. (1999) Construction of a line-scan confocal microscope for physiological recording. Methods Enzvmol. 307, 152–170.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Sanderson, M. and Parker, 1. (2003) Video-rate confocal microscopy. Methods Enzvmol. 360, 447–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Parker, I., Callamaras, N., and Wier, W. G. (1997) A high-resolution, confocal laser-scanning microscope and flash photolysis system for physiological studies. Cell Calcium 21, 441–452.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Callamaras, N. and Parker, 1.(1998) Caged inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate for studying release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Methods Enzvmol. 291, 380–403.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Demuro, A. and Parker, I. (2004) Imaging the activity and localization of single voltage-gated Ca3+ channels by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. Biophys. J. 86, 3250–3259.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Axelrod, D. (2003) Total internal reflection microscopy in cell biology. Methods Enzvmol. 361, 1–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Girard, S. and Clapham, D. (1994) Calcium signaling in oocytes. Methods Cell Biol. 40, 274–284.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Marchant, J. S. and Parker, I. (2001) Xenopus tropicalis oocytes as an advantageous model system for the study of intracellular Ca2+ signaling. Br. J. Pharmacol. 132, 1396–1410.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Axon Instruments Inc. (1993) The Axon Guide for Electrophysiological and Biophysics Laboratory Techniques, Axon Instruments Inc., Foster City, CA.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Dargan, S.L., Demuro, A., Parker, I. (2006). Imaging Ca2+ Signals in Xenopus Oocytes. In: Liu, X.J. (eds) Xenopus Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 322. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-000-3_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-000-3_8

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-362-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-000-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics