EZCELL KITS

Zinc (Zn, atomic number: 30) is an essential mineral of great biological importance. It is a metal with characteristics similar to Magnesium due to its size and oxidation state +2.

It is the second most abundant transition metal in living organisms after iron. Zn2 + -binding proteins represent almost 50% of the transcription regulatory proteins in the human genome and require zinc as an essential cofactor in the regulation of gene expression. Many enzymes also employ Zn2 + ions at their active sites.

Free Zn2 + is released from metalloprotein complexes during oxidative stress and the remainder binds to proteins or nucleic acids. Other examples of biological functions of zinc include signal transduction, apoptosis regulation, neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, and prostate gland function. In humans, zinc deficiency is associated with many chronic diseases such as kidney disease, sickle cell anemia, cirrhosis, some cancers, and metabolic deficiencies. BioVision has developed the EZCell  (cell-based) Zinc Intracellular Staining Kit that contains a membrane-permeable, selective fluorescent probe for the detection of intracellular zinc.

We also include a positive control that elevates zinc staining and a cell-permeable zinc chelator that reduces the fluorescence induced by the positive control. This easy-to-use non-radioactive assay enables studies of zinc regulation at the cellular level using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry in cultured cells.

Phagocytosis in mammals serves as an important first-line defense mechanism against invading pathogens. It is also essential for the continuous elimination of dying cells, the remodeling of tissues and the acquisition of nutrients for some cells. Phagocytosis is a specific form of endocytosis initiated by the recognition and binding of foreign particles by cell surface receptors, followed by their absorption and phagosome formation.

The maturing phagosomes transform into phagolysosomes that destroy the pathogen through enzymes and toxic peroxides. Zymosan prepared from the cell wall of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and consisting of protein-carbohydrate complexes is frequently used as a pathogen in phagocytosis assays. BioVision’s EZCell Phagocytosis Assay Kit (Green Zymosan) uses pre-labeled Zymosan particles as a tool for rapid and accurate detection and quantification of phagocytosis in vitro using a fluorescent microscope, spectrophotometer, or flow cytometry. Our kit provides a robust detection system for phagocytosis activators and / or inhibitors and Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands.

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