A Chemo‐Enzymatic Cascade for the Smart Detection of Nitro‐ and Halogenated Phenols

Abstract The flavin‐dependent monooxygenase, HadA, catalyzes the dehalogenation and denitration of the toxicants, nitro‐ and halogenated phenols, to benzoquinone. The HadA reaction can be applied in one‐pot reactions towards the de novo synthesis of d ‐luciferin by coupling with d ‐Cys condensation. d ‐luciferin, a valuable chemical widely used in biomedical applications, can be used as a substrate for the reaction of firefly luciferase to generate bioluminescence. As nitro‐ and halogenated phenols are key indicators of human overexposure to pesticides and pesticide contamination, the technology provides a sensitive and convenient tool for improved biomedical and environmental detection at ppb sensitivity in biological samples without the requirement for any pre‐treatment. This dual‐pronged method combines the advantages of waste biodetoxification to produce a valuable chemical as well as a smart detection tool for environmental and biomedical detection.