Coupling High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography with Bacterial Genotoxicity Bioreporters

Abstract

We present an innovative technological platform for monitoring the direct genotoxicity of individual components in complex environmental samples, based on bioluminescent Escherichia coli genotoxicity bioreporters, sprayed onto the surface of a high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) plate. These sensor strains harbor plasmid-borne fusions of selected gene promoters of the E. coli SOS DNA repair system to the Photorhabdus luminescens luxABCDE gene cassette, and mark by increased luminescence the presence of potentially DNA-damaging sample components separated on the plate. We demonstrate an "on plate" quantifiable dose-dependent response to several model genotoxicants (without metabolic activation). We further demonstrate the applicability of the system by identifying as genotoxic specific components of HPTLC-separated influent and effluent samples of wastewater treatment plants, thereby alleviating the need for a comprehensive chemical analysis of the sample.