RUI: Analysis of Intracellular Biogenic Sulfur Using micro-Raman Spectroscopy

RUI：使用显微拉曼光谱分析细胞内生物硫

• 批准号: 0939628
• 负责人: Robert Barletta
• 金额: $ 17.1万
• 依托单位: University of South Alabama
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-15 至 2016-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0939628&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Analysis; Intracellular; Biogenic; Sulfur

Biogenic sulfur compounds, such as dimethyl sulfide (DMS), its precursors dimethyl sulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and its atmospheric oxidation product, methane sulfonic acid (MSA), are important components of the global sulfur cycle that significantly impact global climate. The roles of DMSP and DMSO within the organisms that produce them, as well as their intracellular concentrations, are poorly understood. DMSO has been speculated to play a role in intracellular osmoregulation, cryoprotection and scavenging of reactive oxygen species, but its intracellular concentration in plankton has only been inferred. Quantitative measurement of the concentration of biogenic sulfur compounds in vivo is necessary to more completely understand their biogeochemistry. The principal investigator has developed methods for the quantitative analysis of biogenic sulfur compounds using Raman spectroscopy, which have resulted in the detection of DMSO with a sensitivity of 10 mM - far lower than the current estimates of its intracellular concentrations. The research will extend this technique to DMSP. The direct determination of the intracellular DMSP and DMSO, will allow the proposed roles of these compounds in phytoplankton to be investigated. Lastly, using field-collected cores, measurements will be made of the intracellular sulfur compounds as well as the concentration of molecular anions in the sea ice micro-environment. As an RUI project, successful completion of this work will have a substantial impact on undergraduate education in the Chemistry Department at the University of South Alabama, exposing undergraduates and, particularly, under-represented minorities in the sciences to cutting-edge research. It will provide financial support for their education and allow them to present research in journal articles and at technical meetings. Contacts with scientists in the field of Antarctic research at other institutions will give students the opportunity to interact with researchers in related fields, broadening their experience base.

生物硫化合物，如二甲基硫醚（DMS）及其前体二甲基磺基丙酸酯（DMSP）和二甲基亚砜（DMSO），以及其大气氧化产物甲磺酸（MSA），是全球硫循环的重要组成部分，对全球气候具有重要影响。DMSP和DMSO在产生它们的生物体内的作用以及它们的细胞内浓度知之甚少。DMSO被推测在细胞内的光合调节、低温保护和活性氧的清除中起作用，但其在浮游生物中的细胞内浓度仅被推测。定量测量生物硫化合物在体内的浓度是必要的，以更全面地了解它们的地球化学。 主要研究者已经开发了使用拉曼光谱定量分析生物硫化合物的方法，其导致检测DMSO的灵敏度为10 mM -远低于其细胞内浓度的当前估计值。本研究将把这种技术推广到DMSP。直接测定细胞内的DMSP和DMSO，将允许这些化合物在浮游植物中的拟议作用进行调查。最后，使用现场收集的岩心，将测量细胞内的硫化合物以及海冰微环境中分子阴离子的浓度。作为一个RUI项目，这项工作的成功完成将对南亚拉巴马大学化学系的本科教育产生重大影响，使本科生，特别是在科学领域代表性不足的少数民族接触到前沿研究。它将为他们的教育提供财政支持，并使他们能够在期刊文章和技术会议上介绍研究。与其他机构南极研究领域的科学家接触将使学生有机会与相关领域的研究人员互动，扩大他们的经验基础。