Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy of DNA from leaves of in vitro grown apple plants

Abstract

Ultrasensitive Raman measurements of nucleic acids are possible by exploiting the effect of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). In this work, the vibrational spectra of eight genomic DNAs from in vitro grown apple leaf tissues (Malus domestica Borkh., Fam Rosaceae, cvs. Florina, Idared, Rebra, Goldrush, Romus 3, Romus 4 and the rootstocks M9 and M26) were analyzed using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, in the wavenumber range 200-1800 cm −1 . SERS signatures, spectroscopic band assignments and structural interpretations of these plant genomic DNAs are reported. Strong dependences of the SERS spectra on genomic DNA amount in the measured sample volume and on time were observed. Similarities of the SERS signals of DNAs from Rebra and Romus 3 leaves were detected. To our knowledge, this is the first SERS study on genomic DNA from leaf tissues. The present work provides a basis for future use of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to analyze specific plant DNA-ligand interactions or DNA structural changes induced by plants' stress conditions associated with their natural environment. Besides, this study will generate information that is valuable in the development of low-level plant DNA-based analytical sensors.

Subpicosecond dynamics in DNA from leaves ofin vitro-grown apple plants: A SERS study

“…The SERS band parameters for the vibrations near 757 cm −1 (dT), 773 cm −1 (dC), 929 cm −1 (deoxyribose), 1087 cm −1 (PO 2 − symmetric stretch, backbone), 1127 cm −1 (dA), 1181 cm −1 (ring vibrations of dG, dT, dC), 1311 cm −1 (dA), 1362 cm −1 (dT, dA), 1510 cm −1 (dA), 1573 cm −1 (dG, dA) and 1650 cm −1 [dT(C=O), δ(H 2 O)] characteristic to genomic DNAs from different in vitro-grown apple leaf tissues are summarized in Tables 1 and 2, respectively ( [12] and references therein). Data in Table 2 correspond to the same samples as data in Table 1, but at a time later.…”

“…These data are presented elsewhere [12]. Later on the SERS measurements were repeated using the same DNAs and silver colloid system (data not shown).…”

“…An example of the time-dependence of the DNA band parameters, in the proximity of silver nanoparticles have been given. SERS band parameters were obtained for the vibrational modes at 757 cm −1 (dT), 773 cm −1 (dC), 929 cm −1 (deoxyribose), 1087 cm −1 (PO 2 − symmetric stretch, backbone), 1127 cm −1 (dA), 1181 cm −1 (ring vibrations of dG, dT, dC), 1311 cm −1 (dA), 1362 cm −1 (dT, dA), 1510 cm −1 (dA), 1573 cm −1 (dG, dA) and 1650 cm −1 [dT(C=O), δ(H 2 O)], characteristic to genomic DNAs from different apple leaf tissues [12]. It has been shown, that changes in the subpicosecond dynamics of molecular subgroups in genomic DNAs from in vitro-grown apple leaf tissues, can be monitored with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.…”

“…These fully expanded leaves were obtained from plants of: Malus domestica Borkh., Fam Rosaceae, cvs. Florina, Rebra, Goldrush, Romus 3 and Romus 4 [12].…”

“…The experimental details of the SERS spectra, obtained for genomic DNA from different in vitrogrown apple plant tissues, were given in [12]. Leaves from in vitro-grown apple plants of different cultivars, were the source material for the extraction of genomic DNAs.…”