title: Controlling bacterial physiology for optimal expression of gene reporter constructs.
abstract: Bacterial biosensors for the detection of pollutants are based on the regulatory elements that control the corresponding degradation pathways. An increasing number of catabolic pathways under the control of specific regulators are now known to be influenced by the presence of alternative carbon sources, which to different extents repress expression of the pathway despite the presence of the inducer. The molecular basis underlying the control of each catabolic pathway is different, although all sense a high energy state of the cell resulting from the presence of more favourable carbon sources. Biosensor tests mimicking field conditions point to global regulation being relevant for biosensor performance; thus, this global regulation must be taken into account when designing whole-cell biosensors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Apartado de Correos 419, E-18008, Granada, Spain. silvia@eez.csic.es
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marqués
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aranda-Olmedo
authors.forename: Juan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D014157:Transcription Factors