Cell-density-dependent sensitivity of a mer-lux bioassay

Lasse D. Rasmussen; Ralph R. Turner; Tamar Barkay

doi:10.1128/aem.63.8.3291-3293.1997

Cell-density-dependent sensitivity of a mer-lux bioassay

Lasse D. Rasmussen, Ralph R. Turner, Tamar Barkay

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

The sensitivity of a previously described assay (O. Selifonova, R. Burlage, and T. Barkay, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59:3083-3090, 1993) for the detection of bio available inorganic mercury (Hg²⁺) by the activation of a mer-lux fusion was increased from nanomolar to picomolar concentrations by reducing biomass in the assays from 10⁷ to 10⁵ cells ml^-1. The increase in sensitivity was due to a reduction in the number of cellular binding sites that may compete with the regulatory protein, MerR, for binding of the inducer, Hg²⁺. These results show that (i) the sensitivity of the mer-lux assay is sufficient for the detection of Hg²⁺ in most contaminated natural waters and (ii) met-specified reactions, Hg²⁺ reduction and methylmercury degradation, can be induced in natural waters and may participate in the geochemical cycling of mercury.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	3291-3293
Number of pages	3
Journal	Applied and environmental microbiology
Volume	63
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.63.8.3291-3293.1997
State	Published - Aug 1997
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Biotechnology
Food Science
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Ecology

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10.1128/aem.63.8.3291-3293.1997

Cite this

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title = "Cell-density-dependent sensitivity of a mer-lux bioassay",

abstract = "The sensitivity of a previously described assay (O. Selifonova, R. Burlage, and T. Barkay, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59:3083-3090, 1993) for the detection of bio available inorganic mercury (Hg2+) by the activation of a mer-lux fusion was increased from nanomolar to picomolar concentrations by reducing biomass in the assays from 107 to 105 cells ml-1. The increase in sensitivity was due to a reduction in the number of cellular binding sites that may compete with the regulatory protein, MerR, for binding of the inducer, Hg2+. These results show that (i) the sensitivity of the mer-lux assay is sufficient for the detection of Hg2+ in most contaminated natural waters and (ii) met-specified reactions, Hg2+ reduction and methylmercury degradation, can be induced in natural waters and may participate in the geochemical cycling of mercury.",

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T1 - Cell-density-dependent sensitivity of a mer-lux bioassay

AU - Rasmussen, Lasse D.

AU - Turner, Ralph R.

AU - Barkay, Tamar

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N2 - The sensitivity of a previously described assay (O. Selifonova, R. Burlage, and T. Barkay, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59:3083-3090, 1993) for the detection of bio available inorganic mercury (Hg2+) by the activation of a mer-lux fusion was increased from nanomolar to picomolar concentrations by reducing biomass in the assays from 107 to 105 cells ml-1. The increase in sensitivity was due to a reduction in the number of cellular binding sites that may compete with the regulatory protein, MerR, for binding of the inducer, Hg2+. These results show that (i) the sensitivity of the mer-lux assay is sufficient for the detection of Hg2+ in most contaminated natural waters and (ii) met-specified reactions, Hg2+ reduction and methylmercury degradation, can be induced in natural waters and may participate in the geochemical cycling of mercury.

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Cell-density-dependent sensitivity of a mer-lux bioassay

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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