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. 1982 Nov;70(5):1271–1276. doi: 10.1104/pp.70.5.1271

Measurements of Membrane Potentials in Plant Mitochondria with the Safranine Method 1

Anthony L Moore 1,2,2, Walter D Bonner Jr 1,2
PMCID: PMC1065874  PMID: 16662666

Abstract

The positively charged dye, safranine, has been used as an indicator of membrane potentials in mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) and Voodoo lily (Sauromatum guttatum) mitochondria under a variety of metabolic conditions. The spectral response of safranine has been calibrated with respect to a K+ diffusion potential and was found to be linearly related to the developed potential within the range of 50 to 160 millivolts. Both respiration and ATP hydrolysis gave rise to a membrane potential of approximately 135 millivolts. Respiratory inhibitors such as cyanide and antimycin depolarized the potential, whereas rotenone has little effect. No potentials were developed during NADH supported cyanide insensitive respiration. It is concluded that safranine may be a useful spectrophotometric probe of the mitochondrial membrane potential.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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