title: Developing a biosensor for estrogens in water samples: study of the real-time response of live cells of the estrogen-sensitive yeast strain RMY/ER-ERE using fluorescence microscopy.
abstract: Using a fluorescein di-beta-D-galactopyranoside (FDG) substrate we show that in live cells of an estrogen-sensitive yeast strain RMY/ER-ERE with human estrogen receptor (ERalpha) gene and the lacZ gene which encodes beta-galactosidase, the uptake of 17beta-estradiol (E2) and the subsequent production of beta-galactosidase enzyme occur quite rapidly, with maximal enzyme-catalyzed product formation evident after about 30 min of exposure to E2. This finding which agrees with the well-known rates of enzyme-catalyzed reactions could have implications for shortening the duration of environmental sample screening and monitoring regimes using yeast-based estrogen assays, and the development of biosensors for environmental estrogens to complement quantification methods.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Center for Environmental Biotechnology, MS 70A-3317, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. EWozei@LBL.gov
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wozei
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hermanowicz
authors.forename: H-Y N
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Holman
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003199:Computer Systems; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D014873:Water Pollutants