Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; email:
Annu Rev Biophys. 2019 May 6;48:347-369. doi: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-052118-115500. Epub 2019 Mar 20.
Imaging techniques greatly facilitate the comprehensive knowledge of biological systems. Although imaging methodology for biomacromolecules such as protein and nucleic acids has been long established, microscopic techniques and contrast mechanisms are relatively limited for small biomolecules, which are equally important participants in biological processes. Recent developments in Raman imaging, including both microscopy and tailored vibrational tags, have created exciting opportunities for noninvasive imaging of small biomolecules in living cells, tissues, and organisms. Here, we summarize the principle and workflow of small-biomolecule imaging by Raman microscopy. Then, we review recent efforts in imaging, for example, lipids, metabolites, and drugs. The unique advantage of Raman imaging has been manifested in a variety of applications that have provided novel biological insights.
成像技术极大地促进了对生物系统的全面了解。尽管蛋白质和核酸等生物大分子的成像方法已经长期建立，但对于同样是生物过程中重要参与者的小分子，微观技术和对比机制相对有限。拉曼成像的最新发展，包括显微镜和定制的振动标签，为在活细胞、组织和生物体中对小分子进行非侵入性成像创造了令人兴奋的机会。在这里，我们总结了拉曼显微镜中小分子成像的原理和工作流程。然后，我们回顾了最近在成像方面的努力，例如脂质、代谢物和药物。拉曼成像的独特优势已经在各种应用中得到了体现，为提供了新的生物学见解。
