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A DNA‐based assay for toxic chemicals in wastewater
Author(s) -
Foreman Amy L.,
Phillips Leo,
Kanellis Vangelis G.,
Hammoudeh Daoud,
Naumann Christoph,
Wong Henri,
Chisari Robert,
Hibbert D. Brynn,
Lee Garry S.H.,
Patra Ronald,
Julli Moreno,
Chapman John,
Cooke A. Roger,
dos Remedios Cristobal G.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.568
Subject(s) - bioassay , environmental chemistry , metal ions in aqueous solution , ecotoxicity , ceriodaphnia dubia , biology , dna , toxicity , wastewater , metal , chemistry , toxicology , biochemistry , acute toxicity , environmental engineering , ecology , environmental science , organic chemistry
Chemical toxicants, particularly metal ions, are a major contaminant in global waterways. Live‐organism bioassays used to monitor chemical toxicants commonly involve measurements of activity or survival of a freshwater cladoceran ( Ceriodaphnia dubia ) or light emitted by the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri , used in the commercial Microtox® bioassay. Here we describe a novel molecule‐based assay system employing DNA as the chemical biosensor. Metals bind to DNA, causing structural changes that expel a bound (intercalated) fluorescent reporter dye. Analyses of test data using 48 wastewater samples potentially contaminated by metal ions show that the DNA‐dye assay results correlate with those from C. dubia and Microtox bioassays. All three assays exhibit additive, antagonistic, and synergistic responses that cannot be predicted by knowing individual metal concentrations. Analyses of metals in these samples imply the presence of chemical toxicants other than metal ions. The DNA‐dye assay is robust, has a 12‐month shelf life, and is only slightly affected by sample pH in the range 4 to 9. The assay is completed in a matter of minutes, and its portability makes it well suited as a screening assay for use in the field. We conclude that the DNA‐dye test is a surrogate bioassay suitable for screening chemical toxicity. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011; 30:1810–1818. © 2011 SETAC