A simple and non-radioactive technique to study the effect of monophosphoesters on matrix vesicle-me

A simple and non-radioactive technique based on O -cresolpthalein complexone assay was developed to study in vitro non-radioactive calcium (40 Ca) deposition by isolated matrix vesicles. Using this technique, the effect of various phosphoester substrates including ATP, AMP and β-GP on in vitro MV-calcification was studied. O -cresolpthalein complexone assay with non-radioactive calcium demonstrated that AMP or β-GP were more effective in promoting calcium deposition by isolated MVs than ATP. The application of this nonradioactive technique, which is highly sensitive and simple, would offer a useful alternative approach to the routinely used radiometric biomineralization assay which employs radioactive 45 Ca.