Raman microspectroscopy of algal lipid bodies: beta-carotene quantification

0383732 - ÚPT 2013 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Pilát, Zdeněk - Bernatová, Silvie - Ježek, Jan - Šerý, Mojmír - Samek, Ota - Zemánek, Pavel - Nedbal, Ladislav - Trtílek, M.
Raman microspectroscopy of algal lipid bodies: beta-carotene quantification.
Journal of Applied Phycology. Roč. 24, č. 3 (2012), s. 541-546. ISSN 0921-8971. E-ISSN 1573-5176
R&D Projects: GA MPO FR-TI1/433; GA MŠMT ED0017/01/01
Institutional support: RVO:68081731 ; RVO:67179843
Keywords : Raman microspectroscopy * Microalgae * Trachydiscus minutus * Biotechnology * Carotenoids
Subject RIV: JA - Electronics ; Optoelectronics, Electrical Engineering
Impact factor: 2.326, year: 2012

Advanced optical instruments can serve for analysis and manipulation of individual living cells and their internal structures. We have used Raman microspectroscopic analysis for assessment of beta-carotene concentration in algal lipid bodies (LBs) in vivo. Some algae contain beta-carotene in high amounts in their LBs, including strains which are considered useful in biotechnology for lipid and pigment production. We have devised a simple method to measure the concentration of beta-carotene in a mixture of algal storage lipids from the ratio of their Raman vibrations. This finding may allow fast acquisition of beta-carotene concentration valuable, e.g., for Raman microspectroscopy assisted cell sorting for selection of the overproducing strains. Furthermore, we demonstrate that beta-carotene concentration can be proportional to LB volume and light intensity during the cultivation. We combine optical manipulation and analysis on a microfluidic platform in order to achieve fast, effective, and non-invasive sorting based on the spectroscopic features of the individual living cells. The resultant apparatus could find its use in demanding biotechnological applications such as selection of rare natural mutants or artificially modified cells resulting from genetic manipulations.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0213581