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The construction and application of a lux ‐based nitrate biosensor
Author(s) -
Prest A.G.,
Winson M.K.,
Hammond J.R.M.,
Stewart G.S.A.B.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1046/j.1472-765x.1997.00064.x
Subject(s) - library science , biological sciences , microbiology and biotechnology , computer science , biology
A plasmid‐borne transcriptional fusion between the Escherichia coli nitrate reductase ( narG ) promoter and the Photorhabdus luminescens lux operon provides E. coli with a highly bioluminescent phenotype in the presence of nitrate. This E. coli biosensor can detect nitrate to a level of 5×10 −5 mol l −1 (0·3 ppm), levels relevant to those levels encountered in brewing water. Since induction of the narG promoter requires NarL, the plasmid‐based sensor can also be used to interrogate enteric bacteria for the presence of functional xrhomologues of this E. coli regulatory protein. Obesumbacterium proteus , an important bacterial brewery contaminant, failed to provide nitrate‐dependent bioluminescence demonstrating divergence in this organism from E. coli in the mechanism of nitrate reductase regulation.