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Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy of Complex Biological Systems: From Intact Cells to Whole Organisms

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Intrinsically Disordered Protein Analysis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 895))

Abstract

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy is a powerful tool for the study of complex biological systems. Indeed, it is employed to characterize intact cells, tissues, and whole model organisms such as nematodes, since it allows to obtain a chemical fingerprint of the sample under investigation, giving information on the molecular composition and structures. The successful application of this technique for the in situ study of biological processes requires specific sample preparations, in order to obtain reliable and reproducible results. In the present work, we illustrate the optimized procedures to prepare biological samples for IR measurements and the method to collect and analyze their FTIR spectra. In particular, we describe here the investigations on bacterial cells, intact eukaryotic cells, and whole intact nematode specimens.

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Acknowledgments

D.A. and A.N. acknowledge a postdoctoral fellowship, and S.M.D. acknowledges the financial support of the FAR (Fondo di Ateneo per la Ricerca) of the University of Milano-Bicocca (I).

We wish to thank Prof. Aldo Zullini (Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano Bicocca), Dr Diomede and Dr Salmona (Mario Negri Institute, Milan), and Prof. Carlo Alberto Redi (Department of Animal Biology, University of Pavia) for collaborations and fruitful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Diletta Ami, Antonino Natalello & Silvia Maria Doglia

Authors
  1. Diletta Ami
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  2. Antonino Natalello
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  3. Silvia Maria Doglia
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Correspondence to Diletta Ami .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Bruce B. Downs Blvd 12901, Tampa, 33612, Florida, USA

    Vladimir N. Uversky

  2. Dept. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Center for Computational Biology &, Indiana University, West 10th Street 410, Indianapolis, 46202, Indiana, USA

    A. Keith Dunker

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Ami, D., Natalello, A., Doglia, S.M. (2012). Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy of Complex Biological Systems: From Intact Cells to Whole Organisms. In: Uversky, V., Dunker, A. (eds) Intrinsically Disordered Protein Analysis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 895. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-927-3_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-927-3_7

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-926-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-927-3

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