Let ${ M}_n$ be the algebra of all $n \times n$ matrices over $\mathbb{C}$. We say that $A, B \in { M}_n$ quasi-commute if there exists a nonzero $\xi \in \mathbb{C}$ such that $AB = \xi BA$. In the paper we classify bijective not necessarily linear maps $\Phi \colon M_n \to M_n$ which preserve quasi-commutativity in both directions.

The Kronecker modules $\mathbb{V}(m,h,\alpha)$, where $m$ is a positive integer, $h$ is a height function, and $\alpha$ is a $K$-linear functional on the space $K(X)$ of rational functions in one variable $X$ over an algebraically closed field $K$, are models for the family of all torsion-free rank-2 modules that are extensions of finite-dimensional rank-1 modules. Every such module comes with a regulating polynomial $f$ in $K(X)[Y]$. When the endomorphism algebra of $\mathbb{V}(m,h,\alpha)$ is commutative and non-trivial, the regulator $f$ must be quadratic in $Y$. If $f$ has one repeated root in $K(X)$, the endomorphism algebra is the trivial extension $K\ltimes S$ for some vector space $S$. If $f$ has distinct roots in $K(X)$, then the endomorphisms form a structure that we call a bridge. These include the coordinate rings of some curves. Regardless of the number of roots in the regulator, those $\End\mathbb{V}(m,h,\alpha)$ that are domains have zero radical. In addition, each semi-local $\End\mathbb{V}(m,h,\alpha)$ must be either a trivial extension $K\ltimes S$ or the product $K\times K$.

Purely simple Kronecker modules ${\mathcal M}$, built from an algebraically closed field $K$, arise from a triplet $(m,h,\alpha)$ where $m$ is a positive integer, $h\colon\ktil\ar \{\infty,0,1,2,3,\dots\}$ is a height function, and $\alpha$ is a $K$-linear functional on the space $\krx$ of rational functions in one variable $X$. Every pair $(h,\alpha)$ comes with a polynomial $f$ in $K(X)[Y]$ called the regulator. When the module ${\mathcal M}$ admits non-trivial endomorphisms, $f$ must be linear or quadratic in $Y$. In that case ${\mathcal M}$ is purely simple if and only if $f$ is an irreducible quadratic. Then the $K$-algebra $\edm\cm$ embeds in the quadratic function field $\krx[Y]/(f)$. For some height functions $h$ of infinite support $I$, the search for a functional $\alpha$ for which $(h,\alpha)$ has regulator $0$ comes down to having functions $\eta\colon I\ar K$ such that no planar curve intersects the graph of $\eta$ on a cofinite subset. If $K$ has characterictic not $2$, and the triplet $(m,h,\alpha)$ gives a purely-simple Kronecker module ${\mathcal M}$ having non-trivial endomorphisms, then $h$ attains the value $\infty$ at least once on $\ktil$ and $h$ is finite-valued at least twice on $\ktil$. Conversely all these $h$ form part of such triplets. The proof of this result hinges on the fact that a rational function $r$ is a perfect square in $\krx$ if and only if $r$ is a perfect square in the completions of $\krx$ with respect to all of its valuations.