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The use of FTIR spectroscopy to assess quantitative changes in the biochemical composition of microalgae
Author(s) -
Wagner Heiko,
Liu Zhixin,
Langner Uwe,
Stehfest Katja,
Wilhelm Christian
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of biophotonics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.877
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1864-0648
pISSN - 1864-063X
DOI - 10.1002/jbio.201000019
Subject(s) - fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , macromolecule , chemistry , composition (language) , infrared spectroscopy , analytical chemistry (journal) , spectroscopy , biological system , chromatography , chemical engineering , biochemistry , biology , organic chemistry , linguistics , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
A mid‐infrared spectroscopic method was developed for the simultaneous and quantitative determination of total protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents of microalgal cells. Based on a chemometric approach, measured FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectra from algal cells were reconstructed by a partial least square algorithm, using the spectra of the reference substances to determine their relative contribution to the overall cell spectrum. From this specific absorption, absolute macromolecular cell composition [pg cell –1 ] can be calculated using calibration curves, which have been validated by independent biochemical methods. The future potential of this method for photosynthesis research is shown by its application to follow time‐resolved changes in the cellular composition of microalgae during an illumination period of several hours. We show how the macromolecular composition can be investigated by FTIR spectroscopy methods. This can substantially increase the efficiency of screening processes like bioreactor monitoring and may be beneficial in metabolic engineering of algal cells. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)