Recombinant human AhR-mediated GUS reporter gene assays for PCB congeners in transgenic tobacco plants in comparison with recombinant mouse and guinea pig AhRs.

Four expression plasmids for recombinant human aryl hydrocarbon receptor (hAhR) consisting of a ligand binding domain of hAhR, a DNA-binding domain of LexA and a transactivation domain of VP16 as well as β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter genes were constructed. All the expression plasmids were transformed into tobacco plants. The selected transgenic tobacco plants were used to assay.