Real-Time Molecular Monitoring of Chemical Environment in Obligate Anaerobes during Oxygen Adaptive Response
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Date
2009-08-26
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
California Digital Library, University of California
Abstract
Determining the transient chemical properties of the intracellular environment can elucidate the paths through which a biological system adapts to changes in its environment, for example, the mechanisms which enable some obligate anaerobic bacteria to survive a sudden exposure to oxygen. Here we used high-resolution Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectromicroscopy to continuously follow cellular chemistry within living obligate anaerobes by monitoring hydrogen bonding in their cellular water. We observed a sequence of well-orchestrated molecular events that correspond to changes in cellular processes in those cells that survive, but only accumulation of radicals in those that do not.
We thereby can interpret the adaptive response in terms of transient intracellular chemistry and link it to oxygen stress and survival. This ability to monitor chemical changes at the molecular level can yield important insights into a wide range of adaptive responses.
Description
This was a project, was determining the transient chemical properties of the intracellular environment can elucidate the paths through which a biological system adapts to changes in its environment.
Keywords
Chemical Environment, Spectromicroscopy, Anaerobes
Citation
Holman et al. Real-Time Molecular Monitoring of Chemical Environment in Obligate Anaerobes during Oxygen Adaptive Response. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. California Digital Library, University of California. (26/08/ 2009)