Laser Tweezers Raman Spectroscopy Potential for Studies of Complex Dynamic Cellular Processes: Single Cell Bacterial Lysis

The potential of laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy (LTRS) to study complex and dynamic cellular processes was investigated on the model of single E. coli cells lysed (1) from “outside” with egg white lysozyme and (2) from “within” by temperature-induced temperate bacteriophage λcI857. The two lysis processes differed in the final outcome (incomplete vs complete cell lysis) as revealed by the dynamic laser light scattering and exhibited distinctive dynamic Raman spectra changes. The technique enabled for the first time at the cellular level to observe and quantify real time interaction of lysozyme with E. coli cells, “visualize” a side effect of the process due to the presence of EDTA, and correlate the process of cell wall disruption, as evidenced by the onset and development of asymmetric speckle scattering patterns, with release/escape of intracellular material (ribosomes, nucleic acids, proteins, etc.) quantified by the intensity changes of Raman signatures. Raman spectra changes observed during the lysis from “within” suggest alleged production of heat shock proteins are consistent with the occurring synthesis of phage-related proteins and are in good agreement with the calculated potential contribution of the above proteins to the Raman spectra. It was also established and validated that the contribution of cellular DNA to the Raman spectra of bacterial cells is negligible compared to RNA. The results open new venues for LTRS research and strongly suggest that LTRS has a great potential especially in investigation of real-time processes.