Cadmium regulated autoluminescence in plants: a proof of concept to develop phytosensing platform for heavy metal contaminants monitoring

Cadmium (Cd) is one of highly toxic heavy metals causing a wide range of environmental problems to plants, animals and human. In response to cadmium contamination issues, rapid and highly sensitive monitoring/detection methods have been developed. Among these, colorimetric detection based on bioluminescent emission exhibits a powerful biological imaging capability. Recent studies also suggested that the emission of bioluminescence could be programmed under the controlled of a specific promoter. Therefore, this study aims to prove this concept by transiently transform fungal luminescent gene (NnLuz) under the control of cadmium responsive promoter (pcadR) into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves via agroinfiltration. Autoluminescent signal will then be observed after external feeding N. benthamiana with cadmium contaminant.