Construction of a highly bioluminescent Nitrosomonas as a probe for nitrification conditions.
Cloned luciferase-encoding operons were transferred by conjugation to a natural isolate of the ammonia-oxidizing bacterial strain Nitrosomonas sp. RST41-3, thereby establishing conjugation as a tool for gene transfer into Nitrosomonas strains. Luminescence was dependent on the pH of the medium and the concentration of the substrate ammonium chloride. Moreover, the luminescence of the transconjugants was reduced immediately by micromolar concentrations of nitrapyrin and allylthiourea, which are specific inhibitors of nitrification. Our results indicate that luminescent Nitrosomonas strains may be useful as a probe to detect nitrification conditions in the natural environment as well as in sewage plants.
Ludwig
C
C
Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.
Ecker
S
S
Schwindel
K
K
Rast
H G
HG
Stetter
K O
KO
Eberz
G
G
D000643:Ammonium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D009606:Nitrosomonas / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010847:Picolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D013890:Thiourea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
D003470:Culture Media; D009573:Nitrites; D010847:Picolines; D000643:Ammonium Chloride; C009842:allylthiourea; C017560:nitrapyrin; D008156:Luciferases; D013890:Thiourea