Raman Imaging Reveals Insights into Membrane Phase Biophysics in Cells

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Abstract
Cellular membranes are essential components of all livingorganisms.They are composed of a complex mixture of lipids with diverse chemicalstructures and crucial biological functions. The dynamic and heterogeneousnature of cellular membranes presents a challenge for studying theirbiophysical properties and organization in vivo. Raman imaging, particularlycoherent Raman scattering techniques such as stimulated Raman scattering(SRS) microscopy, have emerged as powerful tools for studying cellularmembranes with high spatial and temporal resolution and minimal perturbation.In this Review, we discuss the scientific importance and technicalchallenges of characterizing membrane composition in cellular contextsand how the advances of Raman imaging can provide unique insightsinto membrane phase behavior and organization. We also highlight recentapplications of Raman imaging in studying cellular membranes and implicationsin diseases. In particular, the discovery of phase separation anda solid-phase intracellular membrane on endoplasmic reticulum is reviewedin detail, shedding light on the biology of lipotoxicity.
Funding Information
  • Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (FA9550-21-1-0170)
  • Heritage Medical Research Institute
  • Silicon Valley Community Foundation
  • National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (R01 EB029523)
  • Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (2023-321166)

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