Infrared spectra of proteins and their building blocks: Pt. 1

The development of an infrared microscope attachment for Fourier infrared spectrometers, which allows the recording of spectra in the range 4000 to 700cm sup(-1) with apertures down to 20μm, led to a discussion on whether infrared transmission spectroscopy would be able to differentiate between the various structures which are found on the wings of insects. All characteristic wing features can be isolated with the appropriate apertures and their infrared spectra can be recorded. The homogenity of the wings - on infrared level - of at least some types of insects wings were demonstrated by infrared microscope spectroscopy. It will now be possible to make an exhaustive study of wing spectra using other infrared techniques