Protocol to quantify total intracellular magnesium in small samples using a fluorescent plate reader and fluorescent dye
Assessing total magnesium (Mg) becomes challenging when cell quantities are minimal. Here, we present a protocol to quantify total intracellular Mg in samples with as few as several thousand cells using a fluorescent plate reader and the fluorescent dye diaza-18-crown-6-hydroxyquinoline-5 (DCHQ5). We describe steps for reagent setup, sample preparation, and assay running. We then detail procedures for sample analysis. This protocol has been validated on different cell lines with data from the literature.
Authors
- Francesca Rossi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1199-8019)
- Emil Malucelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1077-0098)
- Stefano Iotti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1426-6400)
- Jeanette A.M. Maier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6326-9221)
- Giovanna Farruggia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3599-7034)
- Martina Rossi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0928-7533)
- Marco Lombardo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8415-8363)
- Concettina Cappadone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3874-6815)
- Lorenzo Anconelli
- Martyna Malgorzata Rydzyk
Institutions
- University of Milan (IT)
- Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi (IT)
- University of Bologna (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- STAR Protocols
- Published
- 2025-07-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2025.103956
- Primary Topic
- Magnesium in Health and Disease
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- European Commission
- Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca