The non-fluorescent acetomethoxy derivate of calcein (calcein AM, AM = acetoxymethyl) is used in biology as it can be transported through the cellular membrane into live cells, which makes it useful for testing of cell viability and for short-term labeling of cells. Alternatively, Fura-2 , Furaptra , Indo-1 and aequorin may be used. An acetomethoxy group obscures the part of the molecule that chelates Ca, Mg, Zn and other ions. After transport into the cells, intracellular esterases remove the acetomethoxy group, the molecule gets trapped inside and gives out strong green fluorescence. As dead cells lack active esterases, only live cells are labeled and counted by flow cytometry.
Calcein is now rarely used as a Ca or Mg indicator because its fluorescence is directly sensitive to these ions only at strongly alkaline pH, and thus it is not particularly useful for measuring Ca or Mg in cells. Fluorescence of calcein is quenched strongly by Co, Ni and Cu and appreciably by Fe and Mn at physiological pH. This fluorescence quenching response can be exploited for detecting the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) and for measuring cell volume changes. Calcein is commonly used for cell tracing and in studies of endocytosis, cell migration, and gap junctions.
The acetoxymethyl ester of calcein is also used to detect drug interactions with multidrug resistance proteins (ABC transporters ATP-binding cassette transporter genes) in intact cells as it is an excellent substrate of the multidrug resistance transporter 1 (MDR1) P-glycoprotein and the Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein (MRP1). The calcein AM assay can be used as a model for drug-drug interactions, for screening transporter substrates and/or inhibitors; and also to determine in vitro drug resistance of cells, including samples from patients.
Calcein is also used for marking freshly hatched fish and for labeling of bones in live animals.