Detection of chrysotile asbestos by using a chrysotile‐binding protein

In the current studies, we found that the DksA protein from Escherichia coli binds strongly to chrysotile, which is the most commonly used form of asbestos. We developed a convenient colorimetric assay for chrysotile using a fusion of DksA and alkaline phosphatase along with 5‐bromo‐4‐chloro‐3‐indolyl‐phosphate and nitro blue tetrazolium as substrates. Also, using a fusion of DksA and green‐fluorescent protein, we were able to detect chrysotile by fluorescence microscopy. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;99: 285–289. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.