Masayuki Masuko

Spectroscopic evidence for a copper-nitrosyl intermediate in nitrite reduction by blue copper-containing nitrite reductase

The reactions of nitrogen monoxide (NO) with the blue copper-containing nitrite reductases from Alcaligenes sp. NCIB 11015 and Achromobacter cycloclastes IAM 1013 were investigated spectroscopically. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals of the blue coppers vanished in the presence of NO at 77 K, being fully restored by the removal of NO. The additions of NO to the enzyme solutions resulted in the substantial bleaching of the visible absorption bands at room temperature. The reactions were also completely reversible. These results suggest the formation of a cuprous nitrosyl complex (Cu+-NO+), which is likely the intermediate in the enzymatic nitrite reduction.

A photon counting TV camera equipped with an image guide for rapid detection and counting of single bacteria in a wide field

Abstract— We developed a photon counting TV camera system, which uses an image guide consisting of tapered optical fibers, for the rapid detection and counting of microscopic sized luminous particles in a wide field. Using a luminous bacterium as a standard, we compared this image guide‐coupled TV camera to a lens‐coupled TV camera by determining their light collecting powers and detection abilities for single bacteria on a membrane filter. The image guide shortened the detection time by an order of magnitude, making the photon counting TV camera a practical system for rapid counting of bacteria.