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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2002, p. 5026-5033, Vol. 68, No. 10
0099-2240/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.68.10.5026-5033.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Novel Cyanobacterial Biosensor for Detection of Herbicides

C. Y. Shao,1 C. J. Howe,2 A. J. R. Porter,1 and L. A. Glover1*

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Abedeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD,1 Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom2

Received 8 March 2002/ Accepted 22 July 2002

The aim of this work was to generate a cyanobacterial biosensor that could be used to detect herbicides and other environmental pollutants. A representative freshwater cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803, was chromosomally marked with the luciferase gene luc (from the firefly Photinus pyralis) to create a novel bioluminescent cyanobacterial strain. Successful expression of the luc gene during growth of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803 cultures was characterized by measuring optical density and bioluminescence. Bioluminescence was optimized with regard to uptake of the luciferase substrate, luciferin, and the physiology of the cyanobacterium. Bioassays demonstrated that a novel luminescent cyanobacterial biosensor has been developed which responded to a range of compounds including different herbicide types and other toxins. This biosensor is expected to provide new opportunities for the rapid screening of environmental samples or for the investigation of potential environmental damage.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 (0) 1224 555799. Fax: 44 (0) 1224 555844. E-mail: l.a.glover{at}abdn.ac.uk.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2002, p. 5026-5033, Vol. 68, No. 10
0099-2240/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.68.10.5026-5033.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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