Merck, C7522-5MG, Calcium Ionophore A23187

General description
Calcium ionophore A23187 is a carboxylic acid antibiotic with weak in vitro activity against Gram-positive organisms. It increases the potential of divalent ions to cross biological membranes, thus it acts as an ionophore. Calcium ionophore A23187 specifically forms stable 2:1 complex with divalent cations, rendering these ions soluble in ordinary organic solvents. Since calcium ionophore A23187 is commonly used to increase intracellular Ca2+ levels in intact cells, it acts as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation and an inhibitor of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity. Calcium Ionophore A23187 is a potent inducer of phosphorylation of Toxoplasma eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF2α). It also induces apoptosis in mouse lymphoma cell line (S49)7 but also has been shown to block apoptosis in other systems, such as when interleukin-3 (IL-3) is withdrawn from IL-3-dependent cells. Calcium ionophore A23187 is widely used as artificial activating substances for human oocytes.
with heating or sonication. Solutions are stable for at least 3 months at -20 °C when protected from light and water contamination.
with heating. Solutions are stable for at least 3 months at -20 °C when protected from light and water contamination.
Application
Calcium ionophore A23187 has been used:
as an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducer to study its effect on the expression of the toxoplasma unfolded protein response (UPR) genes
for the induction of the acrosome reaction
in skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) activity assay

Ionophore highly selective for Ca2+. Potentiates responses to NMDA but not quisqualate. In cell culture, stimulates nitric oxide production by calmodulin-dependent constitutive nitric oxide synthase.