[Use of flame emission analysis for measuring the alkaline cation flux across a cell membrane]

Concentration-emission relations are presented for assayed alkaline cations within 1-100 micro M and interfering alkaline cations at concentrations 1-150 mM. All the data were obtained with the Perkin-Elmer AA spectrophotometer (AA 306) and with an air-propane flame. The advantages of flame-emission technique for measurements of cation fluxes across cell membrane are demonstrated on frog muscle and neuroblastoma cells.