Abstract
The estrogen receptor protein (ER) can bind a vast number of organic pollutants widely spread in the environment and collectively known as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, EDCs. Its broad selectivity makes it an ideal bio-recognition element for the detection of EDCs. Here we describe the strategy and rationale for the design of ER based biosensors and assays that generate a signal in the presence of EDCs. The opportunity to use either natural or rationally modified ER molecules is discussed. The latter approach was successfully applied in the EU-FP7 project RADAR, with the aim to develop a novel biosensor for the detection of organic pollutants both in the environment and in commercial water products.
Highlights
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are a class of organic pollutants with an ever increasing presence in the environment
In the EU-FP7 funded RADAR project we discovered that the isolated estrogen receptor protein (ER) ligand binding domain is easy to produce, sufficiently stable over time and capable of detecting EDCs [17,18]
ER protein can be used as a bio-recognition element for the detection of a class of organic pollutants, collectively known as EDCs, that are toxic, widespread in the environment and whose monitoring and detection is increasingly required by legislation and consumer pressure alike
Summary
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are a class of organic pollutants with an ever increasing presence in the environment. Given the sheer number of existing, new and unknown EDCs, designing chemical assays or detection strategies for each individual compound is not obvious. Studying the biological action of EDC compounds, offers a chance to develop assays and sensors capable of detecting the presence even of unknown, potentially toxic chemicals. Vertebrates utilize the estrogen receptor signaling pathway to regulate gene expression in the presence of steroidal hormones. This pathway plays a key role in development and maintenance of normal sexual and reproductive functions and has effect on the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, immune and central nervous systems [1]. Detection of a potential threat by this method would warrant further investigation
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