Adaptive responses of Escherichia coli for oxidative and protein damage using bioluminescence reporters

The recombinant bioluminescent Escherichia coli strains, DPD2511 and TV1061 containing the katG and grpE promoters, respectively, from Vibrio fischeri fused to luxCDABE, were used to detect the adaptive and repair responses to oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and protein damage due to phenol. The response ratio, represented as the bioluminescence induced in subsequent inductions of DPD2511 and TV1061 with the mother cells previously induced by each chemical, i.e., H₂O₂ and phenol during the previous induction stage, decreased suddenly compared with the ratio of the control culture of each strain, meaning there is a possible adaptive response to stress caused by chemicals. Protein damage due to phenol was completely repaired by the second culturing after the initial induction, as was oxidative damage caused by H₂O₂, which was also rapidly repaired, as detected by the recovery of bioluminescence level. This result suggests that E. coli promptly adapt and repair oxidative and protein damage by H₂O₂ and phenol completely.