MICROSCOPIC MULTICHANNEL SPECTROMETER FOR LIGHT ABSORPTION MEASUREMENTS OF PIGMENTS INSIDE OF MAMMALIAN CELLS

Abstract

During the evolution process most cells have learned to use oxygen for establishing higher functional regulations. For this purpose different proteins have been developed which are able to react with oxygen; as for instance hemoglobin and myoglobin for oxygen transport and storage or cytochromes, which act in the respiratory chain as electron carriers to reduce oxygen to water for generating energy. Also other proteins are known, like oxidases, which are involved in the reduction of oxygen. The question was therefore addressed, whether monitoring of the activity of these proteins in dependence on the oxygen partial pressure can be used to construct a biosensor for oxygen.