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Raman spectroscopic study of the heterogeneity of microcolonies of a pigmented bacterium
Author(s) -
Goodwin James R.,
Hafner Louise M.,
Fredericks Peter M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of raman spectroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.748
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1097-4555
pISSN - 0377-0486
DOI - 10.1002/jrs.1523
Subject(s) - raman spectroscopy , pigment , halophile , chemistry , bacteria , biophysics , biology , optics , physics , genetics , organic chemistry
Small colonies (90–350 µm in diameter) of the pigmented halophilic bacterium Halobacterium salinarium have been studied by Raman microspectroscopy using excitation at 632.8 nm. The Raman spectra were dominated by bands due to carotenoid compounds. The intensity of the pigment bands varied across the diameter of the colonies in a way that suggested the presence of concentric rings of higher pigment concentration. Although the colonies were grown in a transparent incubator in an open laboratory, it was demonstrated that the rings were not a result of the diurnal variation of light and dark. These results support a proposed model relating cell motility and cell concentration. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.