Bioluminescent Sensors for Detection of Bioavailable Hg(II) in the Environment

摘要

Biosensors for the detection of pollutants in the environment can complement analytical methods by distinguishing bioavailable from inert unavailable forms of the contaminants. By using fusions of the well understood TN21 mercury resistance operon (mer) with promoterless luxCDABE from Vibrio fischeri, the authors have constructed and tested three biosensors to Hg(11). The utility of the biosensors in natural waters was demonstrated with freshwater, rain, and estuarine samples supplemented with HG(11). The biosensors described here semi-quantitatively detect bioavailable inorganic mercury in contaminated waters. (Copyright (c) 1993 American Society for Microbiology.)