In a recent study, researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz IPHT) and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena have shown how they can investigate the growth and interactions of the green algae "Ulva" and its bacterial community non-invasively and non-destructively using Raman spectroscopy. This method makes it possible to precisely analyze the development of the algae without disturbing the sensitive processes. The work was published in the journal "ChemPhysChem".
Algae such as Ulva, also known as sea lettuce, play an important role in marine ecosystems and could become increasingly important in biotechnology and energy production in the future. Bacteria are crucial for the normal growth and development of algae. Until now, however, it has been difficult to study these processes in real time without affecting the algae. This is where Raman spectroscopy comes in.
New insights into cell growth
In close collaboration with the University of Innsbruck, the Jena researchers were able to gather detailed information about the chemical composition of algae cells and their interactions with bacteria using Raman spectroscopy. This method uses laser light to examine the molecules in the cells and can thus make changes in the cell structure visible without adding dyes or markers.
"Our aim was to develop a technique that makes it possible to precisely record the subtle differences in the cell structure of the algae and the interactions with the bacteria," explains Constanze Schultz from Leibniz IPHT, first author of the study, which was carried out in the ChemBioSys Collaborative Research Center at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. "Raman spectroscopy offers us a unique opportunity to analyze these processes directly in the water and without affecting the samples."
Significance for biotechnology and environmental protection
The results of the study can deepen our understanding of the role of algae and their bacterial partners in the ecosystem. As algae are increasingly being used in food and energy production, the research could contribute to the development of more efficient methods for cultivating algae. Insights into molecular cell wall synthesis and the development of malformations are particularly relevant here, as they can help to better understand resistance to various environmental influences and susceptibility to disease.
