Abstract
A bioluminescent microbial biosensor induced specifically by l-rhamnose was developed and optimized, to monitor food processes where pectin is involved. The biosensor was developed by fusing the Escherichia coli promoter P rhaB to the promoterless luxCDABE genes of Vibrio fischeri within plasmid pUCD615. Escherichia coli carrying this construct responded positively to l-rhamnose, but, because of low reporter signal, the enhancement of bioluminescence levels was required. The response was improved by promoter region length manipulation and resulted in 86-fold increase in response ratio. The specificity of the biosensor (80 times higher ratio response to l-rhamnose compared to other carbohydrates) and quantitative response to the target analyte were confirmed. The potential of this biosensor to monitor the hydrolysis of various types of pectin was demonstrated and a calibration curve was acquired. Our study presents a novel l-rhamnose-inducible microbial biosensor as a fast and economical alternative to chemical methods of pectin analysis.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | European Food Research and Technology |
| Volume | 235 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Pages (from-to) | 573-579 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| ISSN | 1438-2377 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2012 |