title: Permeability of the mitochondrial outer membrane to organic cations.
abstract: Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by hydrophobic fluorescent dyes (Rhodamine 6G, Safranine O, Pyronine B) is much less potentiated by digitonin-lysis of the outer membrane than that by polyamines or adriamycin. This situation may be explained by impermeability of the anion-selective channels in the outer mitochondrial membrane to large cations and by the ability of hydrophobic (but not polar or amphipathic) ions to directly permeate lipid bilayers.
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany 12201.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mannella
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations; D004058:Diffusion; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D010539:Permeability; D010619:Phenazines; D011754:Pyronine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D051381:Rats; D012235:Rhodamines
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010619:Phenazines; D012235:Rhodamines; C026188:rhodamine 6G; C012020:pyronine B; D011754:Pyronine; C009195:safranine T