Synthetic biologists have developed a novel biosensor which can effectively detect rare earth elements and could be modified for several additional applications. The nanomachines developed generate detectable signals after selectively binding to Lanthanides (Lns).
In the work, published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, the team describe the nanomachines which contain a “switch” created by combining lanthanide-binding protein with beta-lactamase. This chimera acts as a switch that only activates in the presence of lanthanides. The bacteria modified by the chimeras can even survive in the presence of antibiotics, demonstrating their precision for responding to the presence of lanthanides.
"This work opens up exciting possibilities for using biology to detect and recover rare earth metals," said Prof Kirill Alexandrov from the ARC Center of Excellence in Synthetic Biology at the Queensland University of Technology. "The prototype can also be modified for various biotechnological applications, including construction of living organisms capable of detecting and extracting valuable metals."
Next steps for the team include increasing the specificity of the switch to better differentiate closely related rare earth elements. They also intend to explore the possibility of expanding the method for other critical elements.
"We also want to explore using the tool to engineer microbes that can directly extract rare earth minerals from ocean water," added Alexandrov. "This is probably one of the best performing switches made and has given us a lot of insight into the mechanics of protein switches."