EGTA AM

EGTA AM (CAS No.: 99590-86-0) is a cell-permeable acetoxymethyl ester derivative of the calcium chelator EGTA, widely used in biomedical research to modulate intracellular calcium dynamics. Upon passive diffusion across cellular membranes, EGTA AM is hydrolyzed by intracellular esterases to release active EGTA, which selectively binds calcium ions and thereby reduces free intracellular calcium concentrations with relatively slow chelation kinetics. This property enables controlled attenuation of calcium-dependent signaling pathways, including those involved in neurotransmission, muscle contraction, secretion, and gene expression. EGTA AM is commonly employed in cell biology and neuroscience studies to investigate the role of calcium signaling in cellular processes such as synaptic plasticity, apoptosis, and signal transduction cascades. In vitro, its functional activity is typically observed at micromolar concentrations, although experimental conditions and cell types may influence effective dosing. As a research tool, EGTA AM is frequently utilized in cultured cells and tissue preparations, as well as in pharmacological studies aimed at dissecting calcium-mediated mechanisms, with concentrations or dosing regimens optimized according to specific experimental objectives.