Localizing the chemical forms of sulfur in vivo using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopic imaging: application to onion (Allium cepa) tissues
Date
2009
Authors
Pickering, I.
Sneeden, E.
Prince, R.
Block, E.
Harris, H.
Hirsch, G.
George, G.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Biochemistry, 2009; 48(29):6846-6853
Statement of Responsibility
Ingrid J. Pickering, Eileen Yu Sneeden, Roger C. Prince, Eric Block, Hugh H. Harris, Gregory Hirsch and Graham N. George
Conference Name
Abstract
Sulfur has a particularly rich biochemistry and fills a number of important roles in biology. In situ information on sulfur biochemistry is generally difficult to obtain because of a lack of biophysical techniques that have sufficient sensitivity to molecular form. We have recently reported that sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy can be used as a direct probe of the sulfur biochemistry of living mammalian cells [Gnida, M., et al. (2007) Biochemistry 46, 14735-14741]. Here we report an extension of this work and develop sulfur K-edge X-ray fluorescence spectroscopic imaging as an in vivo probe of sulfur metabolism in living cells. For this work, we have chosen onion (Allium cepa) as a tractable model system with well-developed sulfur biochemistry and present evidence of the localization of a number of different chemical forms. X-ray absorption spectroscopy of onion sections showed increased levels of lachrymatory factor (LF) and thiosulfinate and decreased levels of sulfoxide (LF precursor) following cell breakage. In intact cells, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopic imaging showed elevated levels of sulfoxides in the cytosol and elevated levels of reduced sulfur in the central transport vessels and bundle sheath cells.
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Dissertation Note
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Description
Copyright © 2009 American Chemical Society