Open AccessLabel-free Raman observation of cytochrome c dynamics during apoptosis
Author(s) -
Masaya Okada,
Nicholas I. Smith,
Almar F. Palonpon,
Hiromi Endo,
Satoshi Kawata,
Mikiko Sodeoka,
Katsumasa Fujita
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.1107524108
Subject(s) - cytochrome c , cytochrome , mitochondrion , apoptosis , raman spectroscopy , apoptosome , biophysics , mitochondrial apoptosis induced channel , cytochrome b , biology , fluorescence , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biochemistry , mitochondrial dna , programmed cell death , caspase , enzyme , physics , optics , gene
We performed label-free observation of molecular dynamics in apoptotic cells by Raman microscopy. Dynamic changes in cytochrome c distribution at the Raman band of 750 cm-1 were observed after adding an apoptosis inducer to the cells. The comparison of mitochondria fluorescence images and Raman images of cytochrome c confirmed that changes in cytochrome c distribution can be distinguished as release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. Our observation also revealed that the redox state of cytochrome c was maintained during the release from the mitochondria. Monitoring mitochondrial membrane potential with JC-1 dye confirmed that the observed cytochrome c release was associated with apoptosis.