Mn2+ transport across biological membranes may be monitored spectroscopically using the Ca2+ indicator dye antipyrylazo III.

The metallochromic indicator antipyrylazo III can be used for the rapid and convenient monitoring of Mn2+ transport in biological systems. The apparent KD of the Mn-antipyrylazo III complex in buffered 150 mM KCl (pH 7.2 at 20 degrees C) is approximately 2.5 x 10(-5) M. The sensitivity of antipyrylazo III to Mn2+ is comparable to that of arsenazo III to Ca2+. Mn2+ can be measured without interference from Ca2+, by using dual-wavelength spectrophotometry at the wavelength pair 510-590 nm, or 530-565 nm in cell or mitochondrial suspensions. Ca2+ can be monitored at the wavelength pair 720-790 nm without interference from Mn2+. This paper represents the first application of this technique, here used to characterize mitochondrial efflux kinetics of Mn2+. We report that Mn2+ is transported out of liver mitochondria with a Vmax of 1-2 nmol/(mg.min) and a Km of about 12 nmol/mg. These results are in close agreement with results of measurements using 54Mn.