Development of arsenic detection and quantification systems using bacteria

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K14333
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Civil and environmental engineering
• Research Institution: Tohoku Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: Miyauchi Keisuke 東北学院大学, 工学部, 教授 (20324014)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: ヒ素 / 検出システム / バイオセンサー / ヒ素耐性遺伝子群

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An Arsenic detection system using bacteria and their arsenic resistant system was developed. A reporter plasmid in which the arsR gene and the promoter region of arsenic resistant genes including ArsR-binding site were inserted upstream of the luciferase gene, was constructed. The ArsR represses the transcription of the arsenic resistant genes and de-represses it in the presence of arsenite. It was shown that the resultant transformant can detect both arsenate and arsenite. By using a mutant lacking arsenite efflux pump genes, the sensitivity toward arsenic was enhanced. By adding the phosphate buffer during incubation, the strain can detect only arsenite.

Free Research Field

環境工学、応用微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

サンプルと混合してインキュベートし発光量を測定するだけで、環境基準値以下の濃度のサンプルでも亜ヒ酸を検出可能な系を構築することができた。また、既知のヒ酸還元酵素遺伝子以外にもヒ酸還元に関与している遺伝子の存在が示唆されるなど、細菌とヒ素の関わりに関する新たな知見を得ることができた。