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Biosensors Based on Yeast/Fungal Cells

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Biotechnology of Yeasts and Filamentous Fungi

Abstract

Yeast cells can be utilized as whole-cell biosensors for the detection of many target analytes. This is mainly because the latest molecular biology techniques allowed modification of the yeast genome to give the cells useful metabolic properties. The production of correctly folded recombinant proteins, and more particularly receptors, in yeast is nowadays very often successful, and the implementation of diverse reporting strategies is documented. A number of yeast whole-cell biosensors are now being used in many laboratories, with some of them available commercially. One of the major targets of these biosensors is the endocrine disruptors, a class of organic molecules which can disturb vertebrate endocrine system and therefore presents a potential threat to the environment. Recent research has focused on building new biosensors using other receptors such as the G protein-coupled receptors and the thyroid receptor. In this chapter, we will present a selection of newly developed biosensors and the different reporting strategies used to transduce the binding event into a measureable signal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany

    Alexandre Chamas, Ha Thi Minh Pham & Gotthard Kunze

  2. School of Biological Sciences, University Canterbury, Private Bag, 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Kim Baronian

Authors
  1. Alexandre Chamas
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  2. Ha Thi Minh Pham
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  3. Kim Baronian
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  4. Gotthard Kunze
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gotthard Kunze .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine

    Andriy A. Sibirny

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Chamas, A., Pham, H.T.M., Baronian, K., Kunze, G. (2017). Biosensors Based on Yeast/Fungal Cells. In: Sibirny, A. (eds) Biotechnology of Yeasts and Filamentous Fungi. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58829-2_12

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