Alcaligenes eutrophus as a bacterial chromate sensor

Abstract

In Alcaligenes eutrophus CH34, determinants encoding inducible resistance to chromate (chr) and to cobalt and nickel (cnr) are located adjacent to each other on plasmid pMOL28. To develop metal-sensing bacterial strains, a cloned part of plasmid pMOL28, which contains both determinants, was mutated with Tn5-lacZ. The chr::lacZ fusions were specifically induced by chromium; cnr was induced best by Ni2+ but was also induced by Co2+, Mn2+, chromate, Cu2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+. The broad-host-range IncP1 plasmid pEBZ141, which contains a chr::lux fusion, was constructed. A. eutrophus AE104(pEBZ141), carrying a chr::lux transcriptional fusion, could be used as a biosensor for chromate when cultivated in glycerol as an optimal carbon source. Chromate and bichromate were the best inducers; induction by Cr3+ was 10 times lower, and other ions induced only a little or not at all. Interactions among induction of the chr resistance determinant, chromate reduction, chromate accumulation, and the sulfate concentration of the growth medium were demonstrated.