PROTOTYPE TRANSGENIC BIOSENSOR BASED ON GENETICALLY-MODIFIED PLANT-TISSUE

Genetically modified plant tissue materials offer possible advantages as molecular recognition elements in biosensor design. A prototype tra nsgenic biosensor, using potato tissue transformed with a gene conferr ing beta-glucuronidase (GUS) biocatalytic activity coupled with fluore scence detection, is described and evaluated. Under optimal operating conditions, the transgenic sensor system gives good response to glucur onide substrate in the micromolar range and has an operating lifetime of at least 2 months at room temperature. Parallel experiments with no n-transformed potato plant tissue show no glucuronidase activity. The prototype system described here illustrates that desired pathways can be created in plant tissue through genetic manipulation of higher plan ts normally lacking such pathways.