[Cyclic digene system as a control element of a bacterial biosensor].

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Environmental Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Genotoxic compounds pose risks to environmental and human health.
• Developing sensitive and reliable methods for detecting genotoxicants is crucial.
• Bacterial biosensors offer a promising approach for environmental monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential of a genetically modified Escherichia coli strain as a biosensor for genotoxic compounds.
• To investigate the inheritance of the genotoxic response in subsequent bacterial generations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Escherichia coli JC1 58(pCIA12/pG FK5) strain engineered with a cyclic digene system.
• The system featured negative feedback on the pCIA12 plasmid, responding to DNA damage.
• Reporter genes (GFP and beta-galactosidase) were employed to quantify the response.

Main Results:

• The engineered E. coli strain exhibited a measurable change in reporter gene synthesis upon exposure to DNA-damaging agents.
• The induced phenotype, indicating genotoxicity, was heritable across generations.
• Inheritance occurred when the concentration of genotoxic compounds exceeded a specific threshold level.

Conclusions:

• The tested Escherichia coli strain demonstrates potential as a bacterial biosensor for detecting genotoxicants in environmental samples.
• This biosensor can effectively assess the impact of short-term exposure to toxic substances.
• The heritable nature of the response enhances its utility for long-term environmental monitoring strategies.