Raman spectroscopic study of transfected HEK293T cells

Raman spectroscopy is a vibrational spectroscopic technique for assessing molecularmotion and fingerprinting species, which can be used for the identification of molecules inliving cells. We have obtained Raman spectra from HEK293T cells expressing a single transgene in order to analyze whether this technique could be of interest as a tool for identifyingsubtle changes in gene expression. Spectrum obtained from cells expressing the transgeneexhibit features indicating that active vibrational modes related to phenylalanine residuesare dominant. Similarly, C O stretchingmode of a functional carboxylic acid group is absentin transfected cells. In addition to these significant changes, oscillatory strengths of severalvibrational modes are altered. The present analysis suggests that Raman spectrum couldbe a tool to identify changes due to the expression of a single gene

La espectroscopía Raman es una técnica espectroscópica vibracional que permite medirmovimientosmoleculares y obtener perfilesmoleculares, y que se puede utilizar para identi-ficarmoléculas en células vivas. Nosotros hemos obtenido espectros en células HEK293T queexpresan un transgén, al objeto de comprobar si esta técnica podría ser de interés como herramienta para identificar pequeños cambios en la expresión génica. El espectro obtenido encélulas transfectadas es indicativo de que losmodos vibracionales del aminoácido Fenilalanina son predominantes. De manera similar, el modo vibracional de tipo C O característicode los grupos carboxílicos está ausente en células transfectadas. Aparte de estos cambios,también están alteradas las fuerzas oscilatorias de otros modos vibracionales. El presenteanálisis sugiere que los espectros Raman pueden constituir una herramienta de utilidadpara identificar cambios debidos a la expresión de genes específicos (AU)

Highlights on ultrastructural pathology of human sperm.

Applications of atomic force microscopy to ultrastructural investigation of human spermatozoa are -discussed, with particular emphasis to their most common pathological alterations, which are recognized to be associated with male infertility. Morphological alterations can be located in the head, neck piece, and/or in the flagellum. The consequences of these defects on infertility-related topics are examined in the light of aberrations caused in varicocele and in other spermatozoa morphological alterations like globozoospermia, oligoasthenospermia, and in semen from patients with HIV syndrome. Special attention is given to the temperature effects on sperm abnormalities. The application of the present approach to pharmacology, namely, the development of male contraceptive methods, is also referred.