New Rolling Circle Transcription Based on Allosteric Transcription Factors (aTFs) for Trace Detection of Water Contaminants.

Antibiotic and heavy metal contamination in water poses a severe global public health risk, yet conventional detection methods remain constrained by reliance on complex laboratory instrumentation. Although cell-free biosensors utilizing allosteric transcription factors (aTFs) offer promising alternatives, their limited sensitivity impedes reliable detection of small-molecule contaminants. To address this limitation, we developed allosteric transcription factors (aTFs)-regulated rolling circle transcription assay (ARCTA) for ultrasensitive detection of water contaminants.

Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Biosensors Based on Allosteric Transcription Factors (aTFs) for Pb Detection.

Exposure to Pb in the environment, especially in water, poses a significant threat to human health and urgently necessitates the development of highly sensitive Pb detection methods. In this study, we have integrated the high sensitivity of electrochemical techniques with allosteric transcription factors (aTFs) to develop an innovative electrochemical biosensing platform. This biosensors leverage the specific binding and dissociation of DNA to the aTFs (PbrR) on electrode surfaces to detect Pb.