Characterization of pollen carotenoids with in situ and high-performance thin-layer chromatography supported resonant Raman spectroscopy.
Raman signatures of the carotenoid component are studied in individual pollen grains from different species of trees. The information is obtained as differences in the strong pre-resonant Raman spectra measured before and after photodepletion of the carotenoid molecules. The results provide the first in situ evidence of interspecies differences in pollen carotenoid content, structure, and/or assembly between plant species without prior purification. The analysis of carotenoids in situ is confirmed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)-supported resonance Raman data measured directly on the HPTLC plates after separation of carotenoids in pollen extracts. Utilization of the in situ, extraction-free procedure in carotenoid analysis will improve sensitivity and structural selectivity and provides insight into carotenoid structure and composition in single pollen grains.
Chemistry Department, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Strasse 2, D-12489 Berlin, Germany.
Franziska
F
Schulte
Jens
J
Mäder
Lothar W
LW
Kroh
Ulrich
U
Panne
Janina
J
Kneipp
D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry
D002338:Carotenoids