Calcium chloride dihydrate

General description
Calcium chloride (CaCl2) is a commonly used reagent in biochemistry. It plays important roles in many biological processes, including signal transduction, muscle contraction, and maintenance of cell membrane and cell wall stability. CaCl2 is used in the preparation and transformation of competent Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the transfection of eukaryotic cells with either plasmid DNA or high molecular weight genomic DNA. The CaCl2-mediated electroporation of E. coli with the plasmid DNA pBR322 has been studied. CaCl2 is used in the stabilization and two-dimensional crystallization of the NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) from E. coli.[1] The crystallization of porcine pancreatic elastase in the presence of CaCl2 along with sodium citrate reveals the binding of calcium in the metal-binding site of the protein.[2] The effect of CaCl2 on the total fluorescence in the polymerization of the tubulin-like filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z (FtsZ) division protein of E. coli has been studied by a multiwell fluorescent assay.[3] Application
Calcium chloride dihydrate has been used:
in the formulation of media[4] in sperm collection and preparation[5] in cell culture and protoplast preparation[6]