Visualizing metal ions in cells: An overview of analytical techniques, approaches, and probes

Quantifying the amount and defining the location of metal ions in cells and organisms are critical steps in understanding metal homeostasis and how dyshomeostasis causes or is a consequence of disease. A number of recent advances have been made in the development and application of analytical methods to visualize metal ions in biological specimens. Here, we briefly summarize these advances before focusing in more depth on probes for examining transition metals in living cells with high spatial and temporal resolution using fluorescence microscopy. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cell Biology of Metals.

► We discuss methods to map the location and dynamics of metal ions in cells.
► Metal ions can exist in free and bound forms.
► We discuss techniques for defining free and total metal ion content of cells.
► We highlight recent developments in fluorescent probes for metal ions.
► These probes can be used in live cell imaging.