Rapid, sensitive bioluminescent reporter technology for napthalene exposure and biodegradation

Journal Article · Fri Aug 17 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.249.4970.778· OSTI ID:6225865

King, J M.H.; DiGrazia, P M; Applegate, B; Burlage, R; Sanseverino, J; Dunbar, P; Sayler, G S ^[1]; Larimer, F ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville (USA)
2. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN (USA)

A bioluminescent reporter plasmid for naphthalene catabolism (pUTK21) was developed by transposon (Tn4431) insertion of the lux gene cassette from Vibrio fischeri into a naphthalene catabolic plasmid in Pseudomonas fluorescens. The insertion site of the lux transposon was the nahG gene encoding for salicylate hydroxylase. Luciferase-mediated light production from P. fluorescens strains harboring this plasmid was induced on exposure to naphthalene or the regulatory inducer metabolite, salicylate. In continuous culture, light induction was rapid and was highly responsive to dynamic changes in naphthalene exposure. Strains harboring pUTK21 were responsive to aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in Manufactured Gas Plant soils and produced sufficient light to serve as biosensors of naphthalene exposure and reporters of napthalene biodegradative activity. The robust and sensitive nature of the bioluminescent reporter technology suggests that new sensing methods can be developed for on-line process monitoring and control in complex environmental matrices.

• OSTI ID: 6225865
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (USA), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (USA) Vol. 249:4970; ISSN SCIEA; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AROMATICS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOLUMINESCENCE
CATABOLISM
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
CONTAMINATION
DECOMPOSITION
ENZYMES
FLUIDS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GENES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXYLASES
INTERMEDIATE BTU GAS
LUMINESCENCE
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
NAPHTHALENE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PLASMIDS
PSEUDOMONAS
SOILS
TOWN GAS
TRANSPOSONS