Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Design of a highly specific and noninvasive biosensor suitable for real-time in vivo imaging of mercury (II) uptake.


ABSTRACT: Mercury is a ubiquitous pollutant that when absorbed is extremely toxic to a wide variety of biochemical processes. Mercury (II) is a strong, "invisible" poison that is rapidly absorbed by tissues of the intestinal tract, kidneys, and liver upon ingestion. In this study, a novel fluorescence-based biosensor is presented that allows for the direct monitoring of the uptake and distribution of the metal under noninvasive in vivo conditions. With the introduction of a cysteine residue at position 205, located in close proximity to the chromophore, the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from Aequorea victoria was converted into a highly specific biosensor for this metal ion. The mutant protein exhibits a dramatic absorbance and fluorescence change upon mercuration at neutral pH. Absorbance and fluorescence properties with respect to the metal concentration exhibit sigmoidal binding behavior with a detection limit in the low nanomolar range. Time-resolved binding studies indicate rapid subsecond binding of the metal to the protein. The crystal structures obtained of mutant eGFP205C indicate a possible access route of the metal into the core of the protein. To our knowledge, this engineered protein is a first example of a biosensor that allows for noninvasive and real-time imaging of mercury uptake in a living cell. A major advantage is that its expression can be genetically controlled in many organisms to enable unprecedented studies of tissue specific mercury uptake.

SUBMITTER: Chapleau RR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2271171 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

Design of a highly specific and noninvasive biosensor suitable for real-time in vivo imaging of mercury (II) uptake.

Chapleau Richard R RR   Blomberg Rebecca R   Ford Peter C PC   Sagermann Martin M  

Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society 20080227 4


Mercury is a ubiquitous pollutant that when absorbed is extremely toxic to a wide variety of biochemical processes. Mercury (II) is a strong, "invisible" poison that is rapidly absorbed by tissues of the intestinal tract, kidneys, and liver upon ingestion. In this study, a novel fluorescence-based biosensor is presented that allows for the direct monitoring of the uptake and distribution of the metal under noninvasive in vivo conditions. With the introduction of a cysteine residue at position 20  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC3500440 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2789649 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3556017 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC6403641 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC1134733 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC8123339 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4476066 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6626002 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2970451 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6257345 | biostudies-literature