Scientists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) have developed biosensors based on genetically modified bacteria that glow when in contact with hazardous substances. Using these biosensors, researchers have identified a high concentration of alkylating carcinogens in some benthic organisms in the northern seas. These toxins can accumulate in fish, including popular species such as salmon and trout, posing a potential threat to humans.
The technology is based on Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis bacteria, into whose DNA bioluminescence genes have been integrated. Upon contact with toxins that cause oxidative stress or DNA damage, the bacteria begin to glow. This allows for a rapid assessment of pollution levels without complex laboratory analyses.
Unlike chemical water analyses conducted in a laboratory, lux-biosensors detect not specific chemical compounds, but their complex impact and accumulation in marine organisms. Examining their tissues directly serves as an early warning system. It allows us to identify water body pollution even before the level of harmful substances becomes dangerous to humans. Essentially, small crustaceans, by accumulating toxic agents, become the first indicators of hidden danger to the ecosystem, as they are important components of the food chain.
Researchers analyzed bottom sediments and invertebrate tissues collected in the Barents, Kara, and Laptev Seas. The highest concentration of alkylating substances was found in amphipods, sea spiders, and sea roaches, especially in the Barents Sea. These organisms, being part of the food chain, can transmit toxins to fish, which then end up on consumers' tables.
Alkylating substances are chemical compounds that can "attach" small fragments (alkyl groups, such as -CH₃) to other molecules, especially to DNA, RNA, and proteins. These "aggressive" molecules can disrupt the function of the genetic material of cells, which can lead to their death or mutations.
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