Microchemical analysis of retina layers in pigmented and albino rats by Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy.

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy is a powerful technique that can be used to collect infrared spectra from microscopic regions of tissue sections. The infrared spectra are evaluated to chemically characterize the absorbing molecules. This technique can be applied to normal or diseased tissues. In the latter case, FT-IR microspectroscopy can reveal chemical changes that are associated with discrete regions of lesion sites, which can provide insights into the chemical mechanisms of disease processes. In the present study, FT-IR microspectroscopy was used to analyze sections of retina from normal (pigmented) and albino rats. The outer segments of retinas from pigmented animals were found to have unusually strong absorption values for C&z.dbnd6;C-H unsaturation and carbonyl functional groups. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a major constituent of lipids in the outer segments, also had particularly high absorption values for these functional groups, which suggests that it is responsible for those enhanced absorption values. Absorbance values for the unsaturation and carbonyl functional groups were substantially reduced in the outer segments of retinas from albino animals. This finding, together with data from other studies on light-induced oxidative events in the retina, indicates a loss of DHA by a light-induced mechanism in albino animals. The outer nuclear layer had strong absorbance values for H-C-OH and P&z. dbnd6;O functional groups, which is likely due to the sugar phosphate backbone of DNA. The outer and inner plexiform layers were found to contain greater concentrations of CH(2) and C&z.dbnd6;O functional groups than the outer and inner nuclear layers, which is due to the high concentration of synaptic connections in the former layers. In summary, FT-IR microspectroscopy revealed a unique chemical profile in the outer segments compared to other retinal layers, and this profile was altered in albino animals.

Use of the baculovirus system to assemble polyomavirus capsid-like particles with different polyomavirus structural proteins: analysis of the recombinant assembled capsid-like particles.

The genes encoding the structural proteins (VP1, VP2 and VP3) of murine polyomavirus were cloned into the p2Bac dual multiple cloning site vector, individually or jointly, and the corresponding proteins were expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells by cotransfecting Sf9 cells with the constructed vector and the linear DNA of Autographa californica multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV). Recombinant capsid-like particles could be purified 5 days post-infection from Sf9 cells infected with AcMNPV-VP1, with or without the involvement of minor protein (VP2 or VP3). Although VP2 and VP3 alone could not generate recombinant particles, they became incorporated into these particles when expressed with VP1 in Sf9 cells. Recombinant particles with different polyomavirus structural protein(s) were obtained by using different combined expression of these proteins in Sf9 cells. Cellular DNA of 5 kbp in size was packaged in all of the recombinant particles, which showed the same diameter as that of native virions. Agarose gel electrophoresis indicated that DNA packaged in these recombinant particles had a different pattern than that of native virions. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the VP1 species of recombinant particles showed more VP1 species than those of the native virions from mouse cells, and an additional species of VP1 when VP2 was co-expressed with VP1. The recombinant particles were also compared for their ability to compete for polyomavirus infection. The competition assay indicated that the recombinant particles containing VP2 were the most efficient in inhibiting the native polyomavirus infection of 3T6 cells.

Ultraspatially-resolved synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy of plant tissue in situ.

Routine use of 6 microm or 12 microm apertures with synchrotron microspectroscopy provide good spectra without excessive co-addition of scans. 100% mapping by stepping in pixel sized increments reveals chemical heterogeneity within cellular dimensions. The brightness of the synchrotron source and the absence of thermal noise compared to a conventional thermal (globar) source yields favorable signal-to-noise operation. The nondivergent characteristics of the source result in minimal loss of radiation at the aperture, hence, spatial resolution approaches the diffraction limit. Details of cellular dimensions are then localized within any maps produced and individual spectra obtained from adjacent pixels clearly shows the striking difference in chemistry even within a microscopic vicinity. In this report the mapping of plant tissue with the synchrotron is contrasted to previous lower spatial resolution mapping experiments done with the globar on similar materials using interpolation between separated sampling spots and larger apertures.