Deuterium Oxide Enhances Expression of the ada, alkA, and luxA Genes of Escherichia coli Induced by Methyl Methanesulfonate

We have studied the expression of the E. coli ada and alkA genes and the luxA lux-operon gene in the plasmid and under the control of the alkA gene promoter methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) in the cells of deuterated and non-deuterated bacteria of the E. coli K12 MG1655 biosensor (pAlkA–lux) using the RT‑PCR method. The constitutively expressed rrsA 16S ribosome RNA gene was used as a reference. Deuteration of the bacterial culture was carried out in a medium containing 7.5% deuterium oxide (D2O). The numbers of PCR cycles in the cells of deuterated and non-deuterated bacteria were different; exponential emergence of the curve of dependence of the expression level of the studied genes on the number of PCR cycles occurred earlier during deuteration than in non-deuterated bacteria. This difference in the number of cycles (Сt) was 4, 6, and 9 for the luxA, alkA, and ada genes, respectively.