title: Simple whole-cell biodetection and bioremediation of heavy metals based on an engineered lead-specific operon.
abstract: A lead-specific binding protein, PbrR, and promoter pbr from the lead resistance operon, pbr, of Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 was incorporated into E. coli in conjunction with an engineered downstream RFP (red fluorescence protein), which allowed for highly sensitive and selective whole-cell detection of lead ions. The subsequent display of PbrR on the E. coli cell surface permitted selective adsorption of lead ions from solution containing various heavy metal ions. The surface-engineered E. coli bacteria effectively protected Arabidopsis thaliana seed germination from the toxicity of lead ions at high concentrations. Engineering the E. coli bacteria harboring these lead-specific elements from the pbr operon may potentially be a valuable general strategy for biodetection and bioremediation of toxic heavy metal ions in the environment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and BioMedical Science, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University , Nanjing, 210093, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xiangzhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Peiqing
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Zong-Wan
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D049921:Cupriavidus / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009876:Operon; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D019216:Metals, Heavy