Abstract
Catabolism of organic compounds has been extensively described in the literature (1). Many different compounds can be utilized as carbon and energy sources by bacteria, including aliphatics and aromatics, both man-made and natural. Very often these compounds will be broken down to useable intermediates by a set of genes that are coordinately regulated by an operon. The advantage to the cell is that these specialized catabolic genes will only be expressed when the substrate is present, i.e., they are induced in the presence of the substrate. We have used this mducibility to form genetic fusions of the lux gene and catabolic genes of interest.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Atlas, R. M. and Cerniglia, C. E. (1995) Bioremediation of petroleum pollutants. BioSaence 45, 332–338.
King, J. M. H, DiGrazia, P. M., Applegate, B., Burlage, R., Sanseverino, J., Dunbar, P., Larimer, F., and Sayler, G. (1990) Bioluminescent reporter plasmid for naphthalene exposure and biodegradation. Science 249, 778–781
Selifonova, O., Burlage, R., and Barkay, T. (1993) Preparation ofbiolummescent sensors for detection of Hg (II) in the environment. Appl. Environ Microbial 59, 3083–3090.
Burlage, R S, Sayler, G. S., and Larimer, F. W. (1990) Monitoring of naphthalene catabohsm by bioluminescence with nah-lux transcriptional fustons J. Bacterial 172, 4749–4757.
Burlage, R. S., Palumbo, A. V., Heitzer, A., and Sayler, G. S. (1993). Bioluminescent reporter bacteria detect contaminants in soil samples. Appl Blochem. Blotechnol 45/46, 731–740.
Heitzer, A., Burlage, R. S., and Sayler, G. S. (1992) Zux gene bioreporters, in Bioremediatlon of Petroleum Contammated Sod on Kwajalem Island. Mcroblological Characterization and Blotreatability Studies, (Adler, H. I., Jolley, R L., and Donaldson, T L., eds.), Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, TN, pp. 14–28
Hettzer, A., Webb, O. F., Thonnard, J. E., and Sayler, G. S. (1992) Specific and quantitative assessment of naphthalene and salicylate bioavailabilny by using a biolummescent catabolic reporter bacterium. Appl. Environ Microbial 58, 1839–1846
Sayler, G. S., Kmg, J. M. H., Burlage, R., and Larimer, F. (1991) Molecular analysts of biodegradative bacterial populations: application of bioluminescence technology, in Organic Substances and Sedrments in Water, vol. III, Btologlcal (Baker, R. A., ed.), Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, MI, pp. 299–314.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Burlage, R.S. (1998). Organic Contaminant Detection and Biodegradation Characteristics. In: LaRossa, R.A. (eds) Bioluminescence Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 102. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-520-4:259
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-520-4:259
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-520-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-577-8
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols