[Regulated expression of bacterial luminescence genes cloned in a multicopy recombinant plasmid]

Luminescence and growth responses of the recombinant strain Escherichia coli Z905 (AprLux+) to different concentrations of ampicillin depended on the source of carbon and energy. When glycerol was used as the substrate, the intensity of luminescence rose with the ampicillin concentration in the medium. Glucose caused catabolite repression of cell luminescence up to the late stationary phase, and ampicillin enhanced this effect. The feasibility of controlling the expression of cloned lux genes was shown.