Variation in conversion factor between refractive index and dry mass concentration

Range most globular proteins <5%: carbohydrates or lipids <20% %
Organism Generic
Reference Feijó Delgado et al., Intracellular water exchange for measuring the dry mass, water mass and changes in chemical composition of living cells. PLoS One. 2013 Jul 2 8(7):e67590. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067590. p.1 right column top paragraphPubMed ID23844039
Primary Source Barer R, Ross KFA, Tkaczyk S (1953) Refractometry of living cells. Nature 171: 720–724. doi:10.1038/171720a0.PubMed ID13054689
Comments "Although dry mass can be measured in living cells by quantitative phase microscopy [primary source], the conversion factor between refractive index and dry mass concentration must be known. While this factor is similar for most globular proteins (typically varying by less than 5%), it can vary by almost 20% for carbohydrates or lipids [primary source]. Approaches based on vibrational spectroscopy can provide chemical composition of living cells [11], but do not reveal the dry and wet mass."
Entered by Uri M
ID 111207