Metabolic engineering of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway toward a specific and sensitive inorganic mercury biosensor
Chang-ye Hui, Shun-yu Hu, Limei Li, Jian-pei Yun, Yanfang Zhang, Juan Yi, Naixing Zhang, Yan Guo
Abstract
to potentially become an optical biosensor for the qualitative and quantitative detection of ecotoxic Hg(ii). The red color of the lycopene-based biosensor cell pellet was visible upon exposure to 49 nM Hg(ii) and above. The orange β-carotene-based biosensor responded to a simple colorimetric assay as low as 12 nM Hg(ii). A linear response was observed at Hg(ii) concentrations ranging from 12 to 195 nM. Importantly, high specificity and good anti-interference capability suggested that metabolic engineering of the carotenoid biosynthesis was an alternative to developing a visual platform for the rapid analysis of the concentration and toxicity of Hg(ii) in environmentally polluted water.