[Spectroscopic study of the interaction of cationic dyes with mitochondria]

Data are presented on the changes of absorption spectra of two cation dyes: nils blue and acridine orange while binding them with intact mitochondria of the rat liver in various functional states. It is found that when the dyes are bound with mitochondria characteristic changes proceed in the absorption spectra of dyes. These changes show that the formation of the dye molecule dimers is more intensive on the membrane than in solution. Energisation of mitochondria leads to a more intensive formation of acridine orange dimers, but the formation of nils blue dimers becomes less intensive. A suggestion is made about different nature of the interaction between these dyes and active groups of the mitochondria membrane.