Localizing the chemical forms of sulfur in vivo using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopic imaging: application to onion (Allium cepa) tissues.

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.

Sulfur X-ray absorption spectroscopy of living mammalian cells: an enabling tool for sulfur metabolomics. In situ observation of uptake of taurine into MDCK cells.

Sulfur is essential for life, with important roles in biological structure and function. However, because of a lack of suitable biophysical techniques, in situ information about sulfur biochemistry is generally difficult to obtain. Here, we present an in situ sulfur X-ray absorption spectroscopy (S-XAS) study of living cell cultures of the mammalian renal epithelial MDCK cell line.

The sulfur chemistry of shiitake mushroom.

Allium herbs, such as Chinese chive, garlic, and onion, share a common sulfur biochemistry that occurs on cell breakage. Sulfoxide precursors are converted enzymatically to sulfenic acid intermediates and thence to a variety of pungent and in some cases noxious sulfur species that probably act to deter herbivores. Very similar biochemistry has been proposed to occur in shiitake mushrooms.

Imaging of selenium in plants using tapered metal monocapillary optics.

Tapered metal monocapillary optics provide a potential alternative to conventional methods of producing small X-ray beams. This paper presents the initial results of chemically specific imaging using such devices. Cellular resolution of organic selenium is obtained in a longitudinal section of mature Astragalus bisulcatus, a selenium hyperaccumulating plant.