Expression of cloned genes of transgenic microorganisms introduced into man-made ecosystems

Modeling of transgenic microorganism introduction into small man-made ecosystems can help forecast changes in expression of cloned genes under different conditions of existence. Introduction of the E. coli Z905/pPHL7 strain containing a plasmid with luminescent system genes of luminous bacteria led to changes in cell and colony morphology, reduction in metabolic activity of cells, and, as a result, a lower level of expression of cloned gene. A low concentration of nutrients has been shown to favor greatly the phenotypic change of cells of the recombinant strain. Expression of cloned genes changed due to: a lower concentration of plasmid DNA, a change in regulation of cloned genes, and a change in cells of biosynthesis of substrates needed for expression of luminescent genes. The conducted investigations can provide a basis for the use of marker transgenic microorganisms in closed ecosystems of different types. Grant numbers: 99-04-96017, 00-07-9011.