Luminescent whole-cell cyanobacterial bioreporter for measuring Fe availability in diverse marine environments

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2007 Feb;73(3):1019-24. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01670-06. Epub 2006 Dec 8.

Abstract

A Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 Fe bioreporter was constructed containing the isiAB promoter fused to the Vibrio harveyi luxAB genes. Bioreporter luminescence was characterized with respect to the free ferric ion concentration in trace metal-buffered synthetic medium. The applicability of the Fe bioreporter to assess Fe availability in the natural environment was tested by using samples collected from the Baltic Sea and from the high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll subarctic Pacific Ocean. Parallel assessment of dissolved Fe and bioreporter response confirmed that direct chemical measurements of dissolved Fe should not be considered alone when assessing Fe availability to phytoplankton.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Ferric Compounds / analysis
  • Ferric Compounds / metabolism*
  • Flavodoxin / genetics
  • Flavodoxin / metabolism
  • Genes, Reporter*
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / genetics
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / metabolism
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Seawater / chemistry*
  • Synechococcus / genetics
  • Synechococcus / metabolism*
  • Vibrio / genetics
  • Vibrio / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Flavodoxin
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • chlorophyll A binding protein CP43, Cyanobacteria