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A biomarker, P450 RGS, for detecting and monitoring organic compounds in environmental samples

Book ·
OSTI ID:113270
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Columbia Aquatic Sciences, Carlsbad, CA (United States)
  2. NRaD, San Diego, CA (United States)
  3. Univ. of California, La Jolla, CA (United States). Dept. of Pharmacology

This paper describes a transgenic cell line that has been used for the identification of potentially toxic compounds in environmental samples. When samples containing toxic and carcinogenic organic compounds (dioxins, coplanar PCBs and polyaromatic hydrocarbons) are applied to small cell cultures, a series of molecular interaction results in the production of an enzyme which can be rapidly quantified by luminescence. After this P450 Reporter Gene System (RGS) reaction is stopped, the cells are lysed and the cytoplasm is measured for protein content and luminescence. Induction of the enzyme infers that organics are present in the samples at levels that are potentially toxic, carcinogenic, or mutagenic to organisms, and the magnitude of response is a function of the potency of the toxicant. Very small volumes of solvent extracts of tissue, water, aquatic sediments or soils, prepared using standard analytical methods, can be directly applied to the assay system.

OSTI ID:
113270
Report Number(s):
CONF-940499--; ISBN 1-56590-014-6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English