Development of bioreporter assays for the detection of bioavailability of long-chain alkanes based on the marine bacterium Alcanivorax borkumensis strain SK2.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_8B3CADD159D3
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Development of bioreporter assays for the detection of bioavailability of long-chain alkanes based on the marine bacterium Alcanivorax borkumensis strain SK2.
Journal
Environmental Microbiology
Author(s)
Kumari R., Tecon R., Beggah S., Rutler R., Arey J.S., van der Meer J.R.
ISSN
1462-2920 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
1462-2912
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2011
Volume
13
Number
10
Pages
2808-2819
Language
english
Abstract
Long-chain alkanes are a major component of crude oil and therefore potentially good indicators of hydrocarbon spills. Here we present a set of new bacterial bioreporters and assays that allow to detect long-chain alkanes. These reporters are based on the regulatory protein AlkS and the alkB1 promoter from Alcanivorax borkumensis SK2, a widespread alkane degrader in marine habitats. Escherichia coli cells with the reporter construct reacted strongly to octane in short-term (6 h) aqueous suspension assays but very slightly only to tetradecane, in line with what is expected from its low water solubility. In contrast, long-term assays (up to 5 days) with A. borkumensis bioreporters showed strong induction with tetradecane and crude oil. Gel-immobilized A. borkumensis reporter cells were used to demonstrate tetradecane and crude oil bioavailability at a distance from a source. Alcanivorax borkumensis bioreporters induced fivefold more rapid and more strongly when allowed physical contact with the oil phase in standing flask assays, suggesting a major contribution of adhered cells to the overall reporter signal. Using the flask assays we further demonstrated the effect of oleophilic nutrients and biosurfactants on oil availability and degradation by A. borkumensis. The fluorescence signal from flask assays could easily be captured with a normal digital camera, making such tests feasible to be carried out on, e.g. marine oil responder vessels in case of oil accidents.
Keywords
Alcanivoraceae/genetics, Alcanivoraceae/metabolism, Alkanes/metabolism, Biological Availability, Escherichia coli/genetics, Escherichia coli/metabolism, Genes, Reporter, Octanes/metabolism, Petroleum/metabolism, Plasmids
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
09/12/2011 8:28
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:49
Usage data