Skulskii I A, Savina M V, Glasunov V V, Saris N E
J Membr Biol. 1978 Dec 15;44(2):187-94. doi: 10.1007/BF01976038.
The distribution of T1+ between rat liver mitochondria and the medium was studied; millimolar or smaller concentrations of T1+ were labeled with 204T1. The T1+ distribution responded to transient diffusion potentials in a way that indicated electrophoretic movements of T1+. The diffusion potentials were induced by efflux of K+ in response to addition of valinomycin to nonrespiring mitochondria suspended in a medium with low concentrations of K+ or by efflux of H+ induced by making the medium more alkaline in the presence of a protonophorous (proton-conducting) uncoupling agent. Changes in membrane potential induced by valinomycin were followed with the aid of safranine. T1+ brought about collapse of the diffusion potential. It is concluded that T1+ is able to penetrate the mitochondrial membrane electrophoretically.
