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Domain‐level identification and quantification of relative prokaryotic cell abundance in microbial communities by Micro‐FTIR spectroscopy
Author(s) -
Igisu Motoko,
Takai Ken,
Ueno Yuichiro,
Nishizawa Manabu,
Nunoura Takuro,
Hirai Miho,
Kaneko Masanori,
Naraoka Hiroshi,
Shimojima Mie,
Hori Koichi,
Nakashima Satoru,
Ohta Hiroyuki,
Maruyama Shigenori,
Isozaki Yukio
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
environmental microbiology reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.229
H-Index - 69
ISSN - 1758-2229
DOI - 10.1111/j.1758-2229.2011.00277.x
Subject(s) - archaea , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , microbial population biology , bacteria , microbial ecology , chemistry , biology , absorbance , chromatography , chemical engineering , genetics , engineering
Summary Domain‐level identification of microbial cells or cell‐like structures is crucial for investigating natural microbial communities and their ecological significance. By using micro‐Fourier transform infrared (micro‐FTIR) spectroscopy, we established a technical basis for the domain‐level diagnosis and quantification of prokaryotic cell abundance in natural microbial communities. Various prokaryotic cultures (12 species of bacteria and 10 of archaea) were examined using micro‐FTIR spectroscopic analysis. The aliphatic CH 3 /CH 2 absorbance ratios ( R 3/2 ) showed domain‐specific signatures, possibly reflecting distinctive cellular lipid compositions. The signatures were preserved even after chemical cell fixation (formaldehyde) and nucleic acid staining (DAPI) processes – techniques that are essential in studying microbial ecology. The micro‐FTIR technique was successfully applied for quantification of the bacteria/archaea abundance ratio in an active microbial mat community in a subsurface hot aquifer stream. We conclude that the micro‐FTIR R 3/2 measurement is both fast and effective for domain‐level diagnosis and quantification of first‐order prokaryotic community structures.