Stable-light-emitting Escherichia coli as a biosensor

We have studied possibilities for constructing Escherichia coli strains capable of producing stable light. Light production in E. coli is achieved by cloning the genes encoding bacterial luciferase from Vibrio harveyi. To gain the advantage of sensitive detection of light we transferred the genes under the control of a strong, regulatable promoter system. Stabilization of light produced by E. coli clones was accomplished by finding the optimal plasmid construction and growth conditions as well as suitable measuring buffers. The adjustment of the luciferase synthesis for bioluminescence measurements to a high but not harmful level gives healthy cells and stable luciferase. Cultivation at 30 degrees C in an uninduced state was found to be the most important factor in getting stable-light production. The overall cell metabolism being unstressed gives us the possibility of monitoring cell physiology and factors affecting it via bioluminescence reactions in vivo. To make the results easy to interpret the light emission has to be stable during a measurement period of one to several hours. In the case of the original light-producing bacteria, Vibrio and Photobacterium strains it has not thus far been possible to find conditions where light emission would be stable for several hours. Based on our findings an automated biosensor system can be developed to monitor the effects of biologically active compounds against stable-light-producing bacteria.