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A new fluorescence complementation biosensor for detection of estrogenic compounds
Author(s) -
McLachlan Michael J.,
Katzenellenbogen John A.,
Zhao Huimin
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.23254
Subject(s) - bimolecular fluorescence complementation , fluorescence , estrogen receptor , chemistry , ligand (biochemistry) , biosensor , complementation , receptor , biochemistry , titration , ligand binding assay , biophysics , biology , inorganic chemistry , physics , genetics , quantum mechanics , cancer , breast cancer , gene , yeast , phenotype
Abstract Estrogenic compounds are an important class of hormonal substances that can be found as environmental contaminants, with sources including pharmaceuticals, human and animal waste, the chemical industry, and microbial metabolism. Here we report the creation of a biosensor useful for monitoring such compounds, based on complementation of fluorescent protein fragments. A series of sensors were made consisting of fragments of a split mVenus fluorescent protein fused at several different N‐terminal and C‐terminal positions flanking the ligand binding domain of the estrogen receptor alpha. When expressed in HeLa cells, sensor 6 (ERα 312‐595) showed a nine‐fold increase in fluorescence in the presence of estrogen receptor agonists or antagonists. Sensor 2 (ERα 281‐549) discriminated between agonists and antagonists by showing a decrease in fluorescence in the presence of agonists while being induced by antagonists. The fluorescent signal of sensor 6 increased over a period of 24 h, with a two‐fold induction visible at 4 h and four‐fold at 8 h of ligand incubation. Ligand titration showed a good correlation with the known relative binding affinities of the compound. The sensor could detect a number of compounds of interest that can act as environmental endocrine disruptors. The lack of a substrate requirement, the speed of signal development, the potential for high throughput assays, and the ability to distinguish agonists from antagonists make this an attractive sensor for widespread use. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011;108: 2794–2803. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.