Development of Methods that Detect and Monitor Environment Munitions Containments Using Plant Sentinels and Molecular Probes
Abstract
Plants accumulate TNT and similar compounds from soil. Their sessile nature requires that plants adapt to environmental changes by biochemical and molecular means. In principle, it is possible to develop a monitoring capability based on expression of any gene that is activated by specific environmental conditions. First year Department of Defense Strategic Environmental Research and Development program funding has enabled us to demonstrate the feasibility of using plants to monitor movement of TNT in the biosphere. We have identified plant genes activated upon exposure to TNT and cloned portions of these genes. Partial gene sequences will allow design of DNA probes that measure TNT-induced gene activity. These will be used to develop sensitive exposure assays that monitor gene expression in plants growing in environments contaminated with explosives. Munitions, Biomarkers, Plant sentinels, Molecular probes, RADII
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 07, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA286304
Entities
People
- Cheryl R. Kuske
- P.J. Jackson
Organizations
- Los Alamos National Laboratory