荧光素酶基因(Lux)在环境监测中的应用和研究

通过基因工程技术从发光细菌中无性繁殖荧光素酶基因(Lux),并转移到对污染物有特别敏感性的受体菌中表达,或组入对特定细菌种群有专一感染性的噬菌体基因组中,构建成基因工程菌或工程噬菌体用于环境监测,将能极大地提高监测的效率和灵敏性。该技术自80年代创立至今,已成功地用于多种污染物或细菌的监测,显示了较传统发光细菌监测法的明显优势,迅速成为污染生物监测研究的一个热点。本文综述了近年有关荧光素酶基因(Lux)的分子生物学特性及其监测应用的最新研究进展和尚存的问题。 

Lux Genes and Their Application in the Environmental Moniterirg

By the methods of genetic engineering,Lux genes that encode the bioluminescent enzyme luciferase could be cloned into the host bacteria that are sensitive to specific pollutants, or into the bacteriophages that are sensitive to specific bacteria, then such genetic engineered bacteria or pha-ges could be used in the environmental monitoring with higher efficiency. Since its orgination in 1980s, the method has been used successfully in the monitoring of various pollutants or harmful bacteria. With its many obvious advantages over the mothod of using bioluminescent bacteria directly, it is becoming a research hotspot in the area of biomonitoring. In the paper,the authors reviewed the latest progress on the molecular biology of Lux genes and its application in environmental monitoring.