Cyanobacteria carrying an smt-lux transcriptional fusion as biosensors for the detection of heavy metal cations.
The metal-responsive smt operator/promoter region of Synechococcus PCC7942 was fused to the luxCDABE genes of Vibrio fischeri. Plasmid DNA (pJLE23) carrying this fusion conferred metal ion-inducible luminescence to transformed cyanobacteria. Synechococcus PCC7942 (pJLE23) was sensitive to ZnCl2 concentrations within a range of 0.5-4 microM as demonstrated by induction of luminescence. Trace levels of CuSO24 and CdCl2 were also detected.
Erbe
J L
JL
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294, USA.
Adams
A C
AC
Taylor
K B
KB
Hall
L M
LM
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D002712:Chlorides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019327:Copper Sulfate / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002712:Chlorides; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C080048:smtA protein, Synechococcus; C064778:LuxR autoinducer binding proteins; C016837:zinc chloride; D008668:Metallothionein; D019256:Cadmium Chloride; D019327:Copper Sulfate