Raman spectroscopic study of transfected HEK293T cells

Raman spectroscopy is a vibrational spectroscopic technique for assessing molecular motion and fingerprinting species, which can be used for the identification of molecules in living cells. We have obtained Raman spectra from HEK293T cells expressing a single transgene in order to analyze whether this technique could be of interest as a tool for identifying subtle changes in gene expression. Spectrum obtained from cells expressing the transgene exhibit features indicating that active vibrational modes related to phenylalanine residues are dominant. Similarly, CO stretching mode of a functional carboxylic acid group is absent in transfected cells. In addition to these significant changes, oscillatory strengths of several vibrational modes are altered. The present analysis suggests that Raman spectrum could be a tool to identify changes due to the expression of a single gene.