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Title: Detection of phenols using engineered bacteria

Abstract

Detection of phenols using engineered bacteria. A biosensor can be created by placing a reporter gene under control of an inducible promoter. The reporter gene produces a signal when a cognate transcriptional activator senses the inducing chemical. Creation of bacterial biosensors is currently restricted by limited knowledge of the genetic systems of bacteria that catabolize xenobiotics. By using mutagenic PCR to change the chemical specificity of the Pseudomonas species CF600 DmpR protein, the potential for engineering novel biosensors for detection of phenols has been demonstrated. DmpR, a well-characterized transcriptional activator of the P. CF600's dmp operon mediates growth on simple phenols. Transcription from Po, the promoter heading the dmp operon, is activated when the sensor domain of DmpR interacts with phenol and mono-substituted phenols. By altering the sensor domain of the DmpR, a group of DmpR derivatives that activate transcription of a Po-lacZ fusion in response to eight of the EPA's eleven priority pollutant phenols has been created. The assays and the sensor domain mutations that alter the chemical specificity of DmpR is described.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Philadelphia, PA
  2. Los Alamos, NM
  3. Santa Fe, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
920658
Patent Number(s):
7303894
Application Number:
10/665,455
Assignee:
Los Alamos National Security (Los Alamos, NM)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12Q - MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Wise, Arlene A, Kuske, Cheryl R, and Terwilliger, Thomas C. Detection of phenols using engineered bacteria. United States: N. p., 2007. Web.
Wise, Arlene A, Kuske, Cheryl R, & Terwilliger, Thomas C. Detection of phenols using engineered bacteria. United States.
Wise, Arlene A, Kuske, Cheryl R, and Terwilliger, Thomas C. Tue . "Detection of phenols using engineered bacteria". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/920658.
@article{osti_920658,
title = {Detection of phenols using engineered bacteria},
author = {Wise, Arlene A and Kuske, Cheryl R and Terwilliger, Thomas C},
abstractNote = {Detection of phenols using engineered bacteria. A biosensor can be created by placing a reporter gene under control of an inducible promoter. The reporter gene produces a signal when a cognate transcriptional activator senses the inducing chemical. Creation of bacterial biosensors is currently restricted by limited knowledge of the genetic systems of bacteria that catabolize xenobiotics. By using mutagenic PCR to change the chemical specificity of the Pseudomonas species CF600 DmpR protein, the potential for engineering novel biosensors for detection of phenols has been demonstrated. DmpR, a well-characterized transcriptional activator of the P. CF600's dmp operon mediates growth on simple phenols. Transcription from Po, the promoter heading the dmp operon, is activated when the sensor domain of DmpR interacts with phenol and mono-substituted phenols. By altering the sensor domain of the DmpR, a group of DmpR derivatives that activate transcription of a Po-lacZ fusion in response to eight of the EPA's eleven priority pollutant phenols has been created. The assays and the sensor domain mutations that alter the chemical specificity of DmpR is described.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 04 00:00:00 EST 2007},
month = {Tue Dec 04 00:00:00 EST 2007}
}

Works referenced in this record:

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Melamine Deaminase and Atrazine Chlorohydrolase: 98 Percent Identical but Functionally Different
journal, April 2001


Generation of Novel Bacterial Regulatory Proteins That Detect Priority Pollutant Phenols
journal, January 2000