Specific detection of p-chlorobenzoic acid by Escherichia coli bearing a plasmid-borne fcbA'::lux fusion

Yael Rozen, Ali Nejidat, Karl Heinz Gartemann, Shimshon Belkin*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this communication we report on a genetically engineered bacterium that reacts by light emission to the presence of 4-chlorobenzoic acid. To construct this strain, DNA fragment (1.7 kb) upstream from the 4-chlorobenzoic acid dehalogenase (fcb) operon of Arthrobacter SU was fused to Vibrio fischeri luxCDABE genes. An Escherichia coli strain transformed with a multi-copy plasmid (pASU) bearing this fusion responded to the presence of 4-chlorobenzoic acid and a few closely related compounds by increased luminescence, exhibiting a high specificity but a relatively low sensitivity. While it could be somewhat, improved by manipulating the experimental pH, sensitivity remained too low for real time applicability. Nevertheless, the principle of using dehalogenase promoters as environmental pollution sensor was demonstrated.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)633-641
Number of pages9
JournalChemosphere
Volume38
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1999

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