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Using a portable Raman spectrometer to detect carotenoids of halophilic prokaryotes in synthetic inclusions in NaCl, KCl, and sulfates

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Abstract

Cell suspensions of the haloarchaea Halorubrum sodomense and Halobacterium salinarum and the extremely halophilic bacterium Salinibacter ruber (Bacteroidetes) in saturated solutions of chlorides and sulfates (NaCl, KCl, MgSO4·7H2O, K2SO4, and (NH4)Al(SO4)2·12H2O) were left to evaporate to produce micrometric inclusions in laboratory-grown crystals. Raman spectra of these pinkish inclusions were obtained using a handheld Raman spectrometer with green excitation (532 nm). This portable instrument does not include any microscopic tool. Acceptable Raman spectra of carotenoids were obtained in the range of 200–4000 cm−1. This detection achievement was related to the mode of illumination and collection of scattered light as well as due to resonance Raman enhancement of carotenoid signals under green excitation. The position of diagnostic Raman carotenoid bands corresponds well to those specific carotenoids produced by a given halophile. To our best knowledge, this is the first study of carotenoids included in the laboratory in crystalline chlorides and sulfates, using a miniature portable Raman spectrometer.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Czech Science Foundation Project 17-04270S. This research was also supported by Center for Geosphere Dynamics (UNCE/SCI/006). AO was supported by grant no. 2221/15 from the Israel Science Foundation. This study was further supported by the Erasmus+ inter-institutional agreement between the Charles University, Prague, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 12843, Prague 2, Czech Republic

    Jan Jehlička & Adam Culka

  2. The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel

    Lilly Mana & Aharon Oren

Authors
  1. Jan Jehlička
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  2. Adam Culka
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  3. Lilly Mana
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  4. Aharon Oren
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Correspondence to Jan Jehlička.

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Jehlička, J., Culka, A., Mana, L. et al. Using a portable Raman spectrometer to detect carotenoids of halophilic prokaryotes in synthetic inclusions in NaCl, KCl, and sulfates. Anal Bioanal Chem 410, 4437–4443 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-018-1098-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-018-1098-3

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