title: Issues underlying use of biosensors to measure metal bioavailability.
abstract: Heavy metal-mediated toxicity in the environment is dependent on bioavailable metal concentrations both internal and external to microbial cells. Both internal and external metal bioavailability are influenced by multiple factors in the soil environment. External factors include pH, redox potential, ionic strength, organic matter and clay content. The internal bioavailable metal concentration is dependent on both the aforementioned external factors, as well as metal uptake and efflux activities that are specific for each microorganism. The metal-specific biosensors discussed in this article can be used to measure internal metal bioavailability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Room 429, Shantz Boulevard # 38, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. rensingc@ag.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rensing
authors.forename: Raina M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Maier
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D001682:Biological Availability; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants