Assessing Ecotoxicity in Marine Environment Using Luminescent Microalgae: Where Are We At?

摘要: Nowadays, microalgae are particularly used to assess the environmental impact of contaminants in aquatic systems. Naturally present some algal species, bioluminescence is highly application fields related monitoring. Bioluminescent dinoflagellates have played a pivotal role this domain. When exposed heavy metals or toxic organic compounds, bioluminescent capacity decrease light emission. In addition, new molecular tools allow possibility produce genetically modified microorganisms which able perform luminescence. Combined with luciferase reporter gene, two main genetic constructions can be employed. Activation specific inducible promoter induces luminescence gene transcription and signal increases over time. Constitutive promoters result high basal expression level gene. During exposure potential pollutant, will due effect. Toxicity bioassays based on engineered luminescent Chlorophyta among most sensitive tests an invaluable complement classical toxicity assays.