Whole-cell fluorescent biosensors for bioavailability and biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls.
Whole-cell microbial biosensors are one of the newest molecular tools used in environmental monitoring. Such biosensors are constructed through fusing a reporter gene such as lux, gfp or lacZ, to a responsive promoter. There have been many reports of the applications of biosensors, particularly their use in assaying pollutant toxicity and bioavailability. This paper reviews the basic concepts behind the construction of whole-cell microbial biosensors for pollutant monitoring, and describes the applications of two such biosensors for detecting the bioavailability and biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, Ireland. Liux@itcarlow.ie
Xuemei
X
Liu
Kieran J
KJ
Germaine
David
D
Ryan
David N
DN
Dowling
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001682:Biological Availability; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011551:Pseudomonas fluorescens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls