RAMAN INVESTIGATION OF TEMPERATURE PROFILES OF PHOSPHOLIPID DISPERSIONS IN

THE BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY

NORMAN C. CRAIG, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH USA

Norm.Craig@oberlin.edu

Nicolet 6700 FT-IR Spectrometer and Associated NXR Raman Module

Variable Temperature Cell

Top View of Sample Compartment in Raman Module

Raman Spectrum of DPPC at ca 15°C

Spectrum Parameters

Excitation: Nd:YVO4 laser at 1064 nm, ca 0.5 WAnalysis and detection: 180° optics, FT-IR, InGaAsConditions: 8 cm-1 resolution, 200 scans (3 min) Sampling: 1.8 mm m. p. capillary (borosilicate glass); 50% phospholipid in D2O; centrifuged warm. Tiny sample size enables the experiment.

Other Raman spectrometers: simpler, dispersive instruments with CCD detection and excitation with red laser light.

Raman Spectra of CH-Stretching Region at Two Temperatures

Temp 15°C Temp ca 65°C

Temperature Profiles for Various Phospholipids

Acknowledgments

• NSF support for the instrument.• Nanette Lacuesta, as a college senior, assisted

in developing the experiment.• Professor William H. Fuchsman first

introduced the experiment in the laboratory of his biochemistry course.