In vivo studies of nucleic acid by ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy on eucaryotic living cells

We observe for the first time spectra of nucleic acids of living cells, obtained by resonance Raman spectroscopy excited in the u.v. range (257 nm). This wavelength which is close to that of the maximum of absorption of the main components of nucleic acids allows the resonance Raman effect to be obtained and the fluorescent contribution of aromatic amino acids present in proteins to be avoided.