title: Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy as a tool for probing specific biochemical components in bacteria.
abstract: Treatment of bacteria with silver yields intense and highly specific surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectra from various cellular chemical components located in the vicinity of the silver colloids. In particular, we demonstrate an extreme sensitivity to flavin components associated with the cell envelope and to their state of oxidation. Different spectra, possibly associated with DNA, carboxylates, and perhaps phosphates, are obtained from the soluble interior fraction of the cell.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva, Israel 84105.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeiri
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Bronk
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shabtai
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eichler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Efrima
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D005415:Flavins / Q000032:analysis*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000737:chemistry*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005415:Flavins; D012834:Silver