Typologie d'actualités: CBM

A unique biosensor able to detect as low as 10 nM bioavailable copper based on whole-cell eukaryotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cooper in a micronutrient essential to life, its lack induces neurological and blood disorders. It is extensively used in industry, in particular in the batteries of electric cars, but also as a fertilizer and fungicide. However, it is toxic at high concentrations, and is considered as a critical emerging pollutant. Copper detection in water constitutes a major societal and environmental issue.

Currently, copper concentrations are monitored by sophisticated analytical methods requiring time, expansive equipments and deep expertises. Moreover, these technics quantify total copper present in a sample and not copper interacting with living organisms.

Researchers of CBM developed a new and atypical device able to detect copper in a very sensitive and easy way. Their biosensor is based on whole-cell eukaryotic living Saccharomyces cerevisiae, allowing detection of bioavailable copper. It is a ratiometric biosensor, measuring the ratio between (i) a constitutively expressed fluorescent protein and (ii) another fluorescent protein whose expression is directly correlated with copper concentrations as its expression is in under the control of CUP1 promoter, a well-known promoter in Saccharomyces.

By genetic engineering, researchers created many different variants to optimize the response of our biosensor. Their best biosensor is able to detect as low as 10 nM of copper in a linear range from 10-3 to 10-8 M, much better features compared to other currently reported whole cell copper biosensors. This biosensor was also validated on “real” samples: detected concentrations are totally in agreement with manufacturers’ values.

Reference of the article :
Bojan Zunar, Christine Mosrin, Hélène Bénédetti, Béatrice Vallée
Re-engineering of CUP1 promoter and Cup2/Ace1 transactivator to convert Saccharomyces cerevisiae into a whole-cell eukaryotic biosensor capable of detecting 10 nM of bioavailable copper
Biosensors and Bioelectronics 214 (2022) 114502

The article was reported by the CNRS Institute of Chemistry on its website and in its letter "En direct des labos".

 

Chantal Pichon has been appointed Senior Member under the Innovation Chair of the Institut universitaire de France

Chantal Pichon, Professor at the University of Orléans practicing at the Molecular Biophysics Center, is one of the 164 appointed to the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) by the Minister of Higher Education and Research.

Chantal Pichon has been appointed Senior Member under the Innovation Chair of the Institut universitaire de France from October 1, 2022, for a period of 5 years.

The Institut Universitaire de France's mission is to promote the development of high-level research in universities and to strengthen interdisciplinarity.

List of Winners

Research interests

C. Pichon is conducting interdisciplinary projects based on chemistry and molecular and cell biology with a crosstalk between basic and applied researches. C. Pichon’s main research activities are dedicated mainly to the use of nucleic acids as therapeutics. These last years, she is particularly interested in messenger RNAs vaccines and therapeutics. She is developing innovative formulations for their delivery for various applications: mucosal vaccination, cell-based therapies and protein replacement therapy. C. Pichon has patented mRNA bioproduction technology based on a tailor-made yeast-based mRNA factory platform, a complete shift of paradigm compared to in vitro production and a revolutionary new use of yeast. She envisions to build an economically sustainable biotechnology process for production of high-quality mRNA therapeutics opening their use in different applications. Social disparities between and within European countries and all over the world are negatively associated with access to new biopharmaceuticals as mRNAs.

Mariano Gago prize awarded to the collaboration between the group of Eva Jakab Toth and the University of Coimbra, Portugal

2022 is the year of the France-Portugal cooperation, organized by the French and Portuguese Ministries for Europe, Foreign Affairs and Culture.

This “France-Portugal 2022” season is an opportunity to highlight many events marking the cooperation between the two countries, including several in the field of Higher Education and Research.

In this context, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and the Academy of Sciences are pleased to propose a scientific prize which distinguishes existing cooperation between French and Portuguese teams, and to offer them an opportunity to deepen the cooperation in the years to come. The four prizes awarded in 2022 cover all scientific disciplines.

In this frame, the collaboration carried out for many years by Eva Jakab Toth with the University of Coimbra has been rewarded with the Mariano Gago Prize. This collaboration concerns the development of imaging agents based on metalloporphyrins for the detection of tissue redox states.

The official award ceremony helded at the Academy of Sciences on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.