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Genetically modified Escherichia coli for colorimetic detection of inorganic and organic Hg compounds

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Frontiers in Biosensorics I

Part of the book series: Experientia Supplementum ((EXS,volume 80))

Summary

A sensitive colorimetric bacterial system was developed for the detection of Hg(II) and organomercury compounds. The bioactive species, a recombinant Escherichia coli, produces proportionally elevated levels of the enzyme β-galactosidase with increasing amounts of Hg. This is due to a reporter plasmid which carries a Hg(II)-inducible promoter (mer promoter) from the Hg resistance transposon Tn501 regulating the transcription of a promoterless lacZ gene. Additionally, a pMB1 origin of replication without the natural RNA polymerase start site is fused downstream of the mer promoter leading to a Hg(II)-inducible plasmid replication, which results in an improved signal-to-noise ratio. To enhance the sensitivity of this cellular biosensor, the transport proteins for Hg(II) uptake are constitutively produced by a helper plasmid. To enable the detection of organically bound Hg, the Streptomyces lividans organomercurial lyase, an enzyme which catalyses the cleavage of C-Hg-bonds of organomercurial compounds, is also provided by the helper pasmid. Hg(II) and phenylmercuric acetate (PMA) concentrations as low as 5x10-10 M (0.1 ppb) may be detected within a few minutes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Industrial Genetics, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, D-70569, Germany

    J. Klein, J. Altenbuchner & R. Mattes

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  1. J. Klein
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  2. J. Altenbuchner
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  3. R. Mattes
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Biochemie und Molekulare Physiologie c/o Max-Delbrück-Center für Molekulare Medizin, Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, D-13 122, Berlin, Germany

    F. W. Scheller

  2. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Abbestrasse 2-12, D-10587, Berlin, Germany

    F. Schubert

  3. Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung, PO Box 105, D-33311, Gütersloh, Germany

    J. Fedrowitz

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© 1997 Birkhäuser Verlag

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Klein, J., Altenbuchner, J., Mattes, R. (1997). Genetically modified Escherichia coli for colorimetic detection of inorganic and organic Hg compounds. In: Scheller, F.W., Schubert, F., Fedrowitz, J. (eds) Frontiers in Biosensorics I. Experientia Supplementum, vol 80. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-9043-4_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-9043-4_9

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  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-9883-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-9043-4

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