Subcommunity FTIR-spectroscopy to determine physiological cell states.
Estimation of growth potential in a complex community is a great challenge in biotechnical processes and environmental water quality control. Recently it has been shown that the macromolecular structure is a good indicator for the growth potential of phytoplankton cells. A functional understanding of natural phytoplankton communities requires a community analysis by means of single particles technologies. However, conventional biochemical methods are not sensitive enough to determine the macromolecular composition of a single cell or cell aggregates. This problem can be resolved by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, which delivers results similar to biochemical analysis with a much smaller sample size. The combined approach of flow cytometric analysis with subcommunity sorting and subsequent FTIR-analysis offers new perspectives for the understanding of community functioning and process optimization.
Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 23, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Heiko
H
Wagner
Susanne
S
Dunker
Zhixin
Z
Liu
Christian
C
Wilhelm
D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods*