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Cyanobacterial Bioreporters as Sensors of Nutrient Availability

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Whole Cell Sensing System II

Part of the book series: Advances in Biochemical Engineering / Biotechnology ((ABE,volume 118))

Abstract

Due to their ubiquity in aquatic environments and their contribution to total biomass, especially in oligotrophic systems, cyanobacteria can be viewed as a proxy for primary productivity in both marine and fresh waters. In this chapter we describe the development and use of picocyanobacterial bioreporters to measure the bioavailability of nutrients that may constrain total photosynthesis in both lacustrine and marine systems. Issues pertaining to bioreporter construction, performance and field applications are discussed. Specifically, luminescent Synechococcus spp. and Synechocystis spp. bioreporters are described that allow the bioavailability of phosphorus, nitrogen and iron to be accurately measured in environmental samples.

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Acknowledgements

Cyanobacterial bioreporter development and characterization described in this review was based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under grants OCE-9911592, 0327738 and 0727644 (RMLM and GSB), OCE-0095404 (RMLM) and MCB-9634049 (GSB). The authors recognize the contributions of K. Brinkman, P. Croot, K. Durham, O. Gillor, C. Hassler, N. Ivanikova, C. Pohl, D. Porta, R. Sherrell, R. Sterner, M. Twiss, and S. Wilhelm in furthering our efforts to develop and use nutrient-responsive cyanobacterial bioreporters. We also recognize M. Al-Rshaidat, H. Singler, and T. Villareal for their contributions to measuring variable fluorescence of buoyant diatoms described in the case study presented in Sect. 3.1.1. The authors are grateful to the captains and crews of the R/V Blue Heron, R/V New Horizon and the CCGS Limnos for their assistance in collection of samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, 43403, USA

    George S. Bullerjahn, Mark J. Rozmarynowycz & R. Michael L. McKay

  2. N30 Pharmaceuticals, Boulder, CO, 80301, USA

    Ramakrishna Boyanapalli

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  1. George S. Bullerjahn
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  2. Ramakrishna Boyanapalli
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  3. Mark J. Rozmarynowycz
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  4. R. Michael L. McKay
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Correspondence to R. Michael L. McKay .

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  1. , Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel

    Shimshon Belkin

  2. , College of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Korea University, Amam-dong 5-ga, Seoul, 136-701, Korea, Republic of (South Korea)

    Man Bock Gu

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Bullerjahn, G.S., Boyanapalli, R., Rozmarynowycz, M.J., McKay, R.M.L. (2010). Cyanobacterial Bioreporters as Sensors of Nutrient Availability. In: Belkin, S., Gu, M. (eds) Whole Cell Sensing System II. Advances in Biochemical Engineering / Biotechnology, vol 118. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2009_23

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