Crystal structure of a laccase from the fungus Trametes versicolor at 1.90-A resolution containing a full complement of coppers

Laccase is a polyphenol oxidase, which belongs to the family of blue multicopper oxidases. These enzymes catalyze the one-electron oxidation of four reducing-substrate molecules concomitant with the four-electron reduction of molecular oxygen to water. Laccases oxidize a broad range of substrates, preferably phenolic compounds. In the presence of mediators, fungal laccases exhibit an enlarged substrate range and are then able to oxidize compounds with a redox potential exceeding their own. Until now, only one crystal structure of a laccase in an inactive, type-2 copper-depleted form has been reported. We present here the first crystal structure of an active laccase containing a full complement of coppers, the complete polypeptide chain together with seven carbohydrate moieties. Despite the presence of all coppers in the new structure, the folds of the two laccases are quite similar. The coordination of the type-3 coppers, however, is distinctly different. The geometry of the trinuclear copper cluster in the Trametes versicolor laccase is similar to that found in the ascorbate oxidase and that of mammalian ceruloplasmin structures, suggesting a common reaction mechanism for the copper oxidation and the O(2) reduction. In contrast to most blue copper proteins, the type-1 copper in the T. versicolor laccase has no axial ligand and is only 3-fold coordinated. Previously, a modest elevation of the redox potential was attributed to the lack of an axial ligand. Based on the present structural data and sequence comparisons, a mechanism is presented to explain how laccases could tune their redox potential by as much as 200 mV.     

Crystal structures of E. coli laccase CueO at different copper concentrations

CueO protein is a hypothetical bacterial laccase and a good laccase candidate for large scale industrial application. Four CueO crystal structures were determined at different copper concentrations. Low copper occupancy in apo-CueO and slow copper reconstitution process in CueO with exogenous copper were demonstrated. These observations well explain the copper dependence of CueO oxidase activity. Structural comparison between CueO and other three fungal laccase proteins indicates that Glu106 in CueO constitutes the primary counter-work for reconstitution of the trinuclear copper site. Mutation of Glu106 to a Phe enhanced CueO oxidation activity and supported this hypothesis. In addition, an extra alpha-helix from Leu351 to Gly378 covers substrate biding pocket of CueO and might compromises the electron transfer from substrate to type I copper.     

Structure-Function Studies of a Melanocarpus albomyces Laccase Suggest a Pathway for Oxidation of Phenolic Compounds

Melanocarpus albomyces laccase crystals were soaked with 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, a common laccase substrate. Three complex structures from different soaking times were solved. Crystal structures revealed the binding of the original substrate and adducts formed by enzymatic oxidation of the substrate. The dimeric oxidation products were identified by mass spectrometry. In the crystals, a 2,6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone and a C-O dimer were observed, whereas a C-C dimer was the main product identified by mass spectrometry. Crystal structures demonstrated that the substrate and/or its oxidation products were bound in the pocket formed by residues Ala191, Pro192, Glu235, Leu363, Phe371, Trp373, Phe427, Leu429, Trp507 and His508. Substrate and adducts were hydrogen-bonded to His508, one of the ligands of type 1 copper. Therefore, this surface-exposed histidine most likely has a role in electron transfer by laccases. Based on our mutagenesis studies, the carboxylic acid residue Glu235 at the bottom of the binding site pocket is also crucial in the oxidation of phenolics. Glu235 may be responsible for the abstraction of a proton from the OH group of the substrate and His508 may extract an electron. In addition, crystal structures revealed a secondary binding site formed through weak dimerization in M. albomyces laccase molecules. This binding site most likely exists only in crystals, when the Phe427 residues are packed against each other.     

Reduction thermodynamics of the T1 Cu site in plant and fungal laccases

The thermodynamic parameters for reduction of the type-1 (T1) copper site in Rhus vernicifera and Trametes versicolor laccases and for the derivative of the former protein from which the type-2 copper has been selectively removed (T2D) have been determined with UV–vis spectroelectrochemistry. In all cases, the enthalpic term turns out to be the main determinant of the E ^o′ of the T1 site. Also the difference between the reduction potentials of the two laccases is enthalpy-based and reflects differences in the coordination features of the T1 sites and their protein environment. The T1 sites in native R. vernicifera laccase and its T2D derivative show the same E ^o′, as a result of compensatory differences in the reduction thermodynamics. This suggests that removal of the type-2 (T2) copper results in modification of the reduction-induced solvent reorganization effects, with no influence in the structure of the multicopper protein site. This conclusion is supported by NMR data recorded on the native, the T2D, and Hg-substituted T1 derivatives of R. vernicifera laccase, which show that the T1 and T2/T3 sites are largely noninteracting.     

Laccase induction in fungi and laccase/N-OH mediator systems applied in paper mill effluent

There has been increasing interest in extracellular enzymes from white rot fungi, such as lignin and manganese peroxidases, and laccases, due to their potential to degrade both highly toxic phenolic compounds and lignin. The optimum cultivation conditions for laccase production in semi-solid and liquid medium by Trametes versicolor, Trametes villosa, Lentinula edodes and Botrytis cinerea and the effects of laccase mediator system in E1 effluent were studied. The higher laccase activity (12756 U) was obtained in a liquid culture of T. versicolor in the presence of 1 mM of 2,5-xylidine and 0.4 mM copper salt as inducers. The effluent biotreatments were not efficient in decolorization with any fungal laccases studied. Maximum phenol reduction was approximately 23% in the absence of mediators from T. versicolor. The presence of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole did not increase phenol reduction. However, acetohydroxamic acid, which was not degraded by laccase, acted very efficiently on E1 effluent, reducing 70% and 73% of the total phenol and total organic carbon, respectively. Therefore, acetohydroxamic acid could be applied as a mediator for laccase bioremediation in E1 effluent.     

Laccase of Cyathus bulleri: structural, catalytic characterization and expression in Escherichia coli

Cyathus bulleri, a ligninolytic fungus, produces a single laccase the internal peptides (3) of which bear similarity to laccases of several white rot fungi. Comparison of the total amino acid composition of this laccase with several fungal laccases indicated dissimilarity in the proportion of some basic and hydrophobic amino acids. Analysis of the circular dichroism spectrum of the protein indicated 37% alpha-helical, 26% beta-sheet and 38% random coil content which differed significantly from that in the solved structures of other laccases, which contain higher beta-sheet structures. The critical role of the carboxylic group containing amino acids was demonstrated by determining the kinetic parameters at different pH and this was confirmed by the observation that a critical Asp is strongly conserved in both Ascomycete and Basidiomycete laccases. The enzyme was denatured in the presence of a number of denaturing agents and refolded back to functional state with copper. In the folding experiments under alkaline conditions, zinc could replace copper in restoring 100% of laccase activity indicating the non-essential role of copper in this laccase. The laccase was expressed in Escherichia coli by a modification of the ligation-anchored PCR approach making it the first fungal laccase to be expressed in a bacterial host. The laccase sequence was confirmed by way of analysis of a 435 bp sequence of the insert.     

An alternative excited-state proton transfer pathway in green fluorescent protein variant S205V

Wild-type green fluorescent protein (wt-GFP) has a prominent absorbance band centered at approximately 395 nm, attributed to the neutral chromophore form. The green emission arising upon excitation of this band results from excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) from the chromophore hydroxyl, through a hydrogen-bond network proposed to consist of a water molecule and Ser205, to Glu222. Although evidence for Glu222 as a terminal proton acceptor has already been obtained, no evidence for the participation of Ser205 in the proton transfer process exists. To examine the role of Ser205 in the proton transfer, we mutated Ser205 to valine. However, the derived GFP variant S205V, upon excitation at 400 nm, still produces green fluorescence. Time-resolved emission spectroscopy suggests that ESPT contributes to the green fluorescence, and that the proton transfer takes place approximately 30 times more slowly than in wt-GFP. The crystal structure of S205V reveals rearrangement of Glu222 and Thr203, forming a new hydrogen-bonding network. We propose this network to be an alternative ESPT pathway with distinctive features that explain the significantly slowed rate of proton transfer. In support of this proposal, the double mutant S205V/T203V is shown to be a novel blue fluorescent protein containing a tyrosine-based chromophore, yet is incapable of ESPT. The results have implications for the detailed mechanism of ESPT and the photocycle of wt-GFP, in particular for the structures of spectroscopically identified intermediates in the cycle.     

Pulse-radiolysis studies on the interaction of one-electron reduced species with blue oxidases. Reduction of native and type-2-copper-depleted Vietnamese-lacquer-tree and Japanese-lacquer-tree laccases.

The interactions of one-electron reduced metronidazole (ArNO2.-) and O2.- with native and Type-2-copper-depleted Vietnamese- and Japanese-lacquer-tree laccases were studied in aqueous solution at pH 6.0 and 7.4 by using the technique of pulse radiolysis. On reaction with ArNO2.-, in the absence of O2, the holo- and the Type-2-copper-depleted proteins accept, with reduction of Type 1 copper, 2 and 1 reducing equivalents respectively. On reaction with O2.- of both holo- and Type-2-copper-depleted Vietnamese-lacquer-tree laccase, almost complete reduction of Type 1 copper was observed and, after completion of the reaction, some (less than 20%) reoxidation of Type 1 copper occurs. Reduction of Type 1 copper of the laccases by these one-electron donors occurs via a bimolecular step; however, the rate of reduction of Vietnamese-lacquer-tree laccase is over 10 times that of Japanese-lacquer-tree laccase. It is inferred that electrons enter the protein via Type 1 copper with, in the case of the holoprotein, subsequent rapid intramolecular transfer of 1 reducing equivalent within the protein. Furthermore it is suggested that intra-molecular electron transfer to Type 3 copper atoms is slow and, in the case of Type-2-copper-depleted protein, may not occur. This slow process may partially account for the variation of the catalytic activities of 'blue' oxidases.     

The phenoloxidases of the ascomycete Podospora anserina. XI. The state of copper of laccases I, II and III.

1. Laccases I, II and III were (EC 1.14.18.1) prepared from the mycelium of the ascomycete Podospora anserina. The tetrameric laccase I(mol. wt 340 000, 16 copper atoms) and the monomeric laccases II and II (mol. wt 80 000, 4 copper atoms) have been studied by optical absorption-, circular dichroism-(CD)and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). 2. The visible and near ultraviolet difference absorption spectrum, which is apparently identical for all three laccases, shows two maxima at 330 and 610 nm and a shoulder at about 725 nm. The molar extinction coefficients of these bands are 4 times larger for the tetrameric laccase I compared to the monomeric laccases II and III which show values similar to other blue copper-containing oxidases. 3. CD spectra between 300 and 730 nm of the tree laccases are similar and contain at least 5-bands in the oxidized enzyme. If the enzyme is reduced, only a band at 307 nm remains. The molar ellipticity values of these bands are 4 times larger for laccase I than the corresponding bands of laccases II and III. It is inferred that the reducible bands are associated with the Type 1 Cu-2+. 4. In all three laccases the EPR-detectable copper accounts for only about 50% of the total copper content. The 9-GHz and 35-GHz spectra, which are identical for all three laccases, consist of two components of equal intensity. One component shows a rather small copper hyperfine coupling and a small deviation from axial symmetry. It is suggested that this copper is associated with the blue chromophore in analogy to Type 1 Cu-2+ in other blue copper proteins. The other component has a broader hyperfine coupling similar to Type 2 Cu-2+ as found in other copper proteins. The assumption that the experimental spectra result from a superposition of the spectra of equal amounts of Type 1 and Type 2 Cu-2+ has been verified by computer simulation. 5. It is suggested that the copper ions which are not detected by EPR are connected to the absorption band at 330 nm and that these ions are also essential for the function of these laccases.     

The Structure of the Small Laccase from Streptomyces coelicolor Reveals a Link between Laccases and Nitrite Reductases

The X-ray structure of the two-domain laccase (small laccase) from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) was solved at 2.7-Å resolution. The enzyme differs significantly from all laccases studied structurally so far. It consists of two domains and forms trimers and hence resembles the quaternary structure of nitrite reductases or ceruloplasmins more than that of large laccases. There are three trinuclear copper clusters in the enzyme localized between domains 1 and 2 of each pair of neighbor chains. In this way, a similar geometry of the active site as seen in large laccases is ensured, albeit by different arrangements of domains and protein chains. Three copper ions of type 1 lie close to one another near the surface of the central part of the trimer, and, effectively, a trimeric substrate binding site is formed in their vicinity.     

Incorporation of Copper Ions into T2/T3 Centers of Two-Domain Laccases

Laccase belongs to the family of copper-containing oxidases. A study was made of the mechanism that sustains the incorporation of copper ions into the T2/T3 centers of recombinant two-domain laccase Streptomyces griseoflavus Ac-993. The occupancy of the T3 center by copper ions was found to increase with an increasing copper content in the culture medium and after dialysis of the protein preparation against a copper sulfate-containing buffer. The T2 center was filled only when overproducer strain cells were grown at a higher copper concentration in the medium. Two-domain laccases were assumed to possess a channel that serves to deliver copper ions to the T3 center during the formation of the three-dimensional laccase conformation and dialysis of the protein preparation. A narrower channel leads to the T2 center in two-domain laccases compared with three-domain ones, rendering the center less accessible for copper atoms. The incorporation of copper ions into the T2 center of two-domain laccases is likely to occur in the course of their biosynthesis or the formation of a functional trimer.     

Recent trends in fungal laccase for various industrial applications: An eco-friendly approach - A review

The aim of this review is to determine the trends of state-of-art of laccase sources, properties, structure and recent application of fungal laccase in various fields. Laccases are biotechnologically important multi copper proteins that have broad substrate specificity towards aromatic and non-aromatic compounds. Fungi are the major laccase producers especially ascomycetes, deuteromycetes and basidiomycetes, and laccases have an average molecular weight between 50 and 130 kDa. Fungal laccases are used in biotechnological applications for preparation of anticancerous and anti-oxidant hormonal drugs, stabilization of food products, and laccase application is also extended to preparation of biosensors, DNA labeling, immunochemical assay, bioorganic compound synthesis etc. The environmental application of laccase is for biodegradation of dyes, phenols and pesticides, and the mechanism of degradation has been briefly explained. Analysis of the biodegraded dye sample by FT-IR and Mass (ESI)-spectrum has been discussed in a detailed manner. Modeling kinetics has been discussed with respect to degradation of wastes in order to understand the factors involved in the degradation process.     

Structure,functionality and tuning up of laccases for lignocellulose and other industrial applications

Laccases (EC 1.10.3.2) are copper-containing oxidoreductases that have a relatively high redox potential which enables them to catalyze oxidation of phenolic compounds, including lignin-derived phenolics. The laccase-catalyzed oxidation of phenolics is accompanied by concomitant reduction of dioxygen to water via copper catalysis and involves a series of electron transfer reactions balanced by a stepwise re-oxidation of copper ions in the active site of the enzyme. The reaction details of the catalytic four-copper mechanism of laccase-mediated catalysis are carefully re-examined and clarified. The substrate range for laccase catalysis can be expanded by means of supplementary mediators that essentially function as vehicles for electron transfer. Comparisons of amino acid sequences and structural traits of selected laccases reveal conservation of the active site trinuclear center geometry but differences in loop conformations. We also evaluate the features and regions of laccases in relation to modification and evolution of laccases for various industrial applications including lignocellulosic biomass processing.     

The structure of Rigidoporus lignosus Laccase containing a full complement of copper ions, reveals an asymmetrical arrangement for the T3 copper pair

Laccase is a multicopper blue oxidase that couples the four-electron reduction of oxygen with the oxidation of a broad range of organic substrates, including phenols and arylamines. The enzyme is the object of intense biotechnological research, due to its employment in bioremediation of soils and water as well as in other biotechnological applications. We report here the cDNA and protein sequences, the post-translational modifications, the crystallization and X-ray structure determination of a laccase from the white-rot fungus Rigidoporus lignosus. The amino acid residues sequence deduced from cDNA clearly identified a pre-sequence of 21 residues representing the signal for extra-cellular localization. Mass spectrometry analysis performed on the salvage enzyme, confirmed the deduced sequence and precisely mapped two glycosylation sites at Asn337 and Asn435, determining the nature of the bound glycosidic moieties. The crystal structure was determined at 1.7A resolution from perfectly hemihedrally twinned crystals, by molecular replacement technique. While the overall structure closely resembled those reported for other fungal laccases, the analysis of the T2/T3 trinuclear cluster revealed an unprecedented coordination sphere for the T3 copper pair. No bridging oxygen ligand was present between the two T3 copper ions, which were no longer symmetrically coordinated. The observed structure could represent an intermediate along the process of four-electron reduction of oxygen to water taking place at the trinuclear copper cluster.     

Redox chemistry in laccase-catalyzed oxidation of N-hydroxy compounds

1-Hydroxybenzotriazole, violuric acid, and N-hydroxyacetanilide are three N-OH compounds capable of mediating a range of laccase-catalyzed biotransformations, such as paper pulp delignification and degradation of polycyclic hydrocarbons. The mechanism of their enzymatic oxidation was studied with seven fungal laccases. The oxidation had a bell-shaped pH-activity profile with an optimal pH ranging from 4 to 7. The oxidation rate was found to be dependent on the redox potential difference between the N-OH substrate and laccase. A laccase with a higher redox potential or an N-OH compound with a lower redox potential tended to have a higher oxidation rate. Similar to the enzymatic oxidation of phenols, phenoxazines, phenothiazines, and other redox-active compounds, an "outer-sphere" type of single-electron transfer from the substrate to laccase and proton release are speculated to be involved in the rate-limiting step for N-OH oxidation.     

A crystallographic and spectroscopic study on the effect of X-ray radiation on the crystal structure of Melanocarpus albomyces laccase

Laccases (p-diphenol dioxygen oxidoreductases) belong to the family of blue multicopper oxidases, which catalyse the four-electron reduction of dioxygen to water concomitantly through the oxidation of substrate molecules. Blue multicopper oxidases have four coppers, a copper (T1) forming a mononuclear site and a cluster of three coppers (T2, T3, and T3') forming a trinuclear site. Because X-rays are known to liberate electrons during data collection and may thus affect the oxidation state of metals, we have investigated the effect of X-ray radiation upon the crystal structure of a recombinant laccase from Melanocarpus albomyces through the use of crystallography and crystal absorption spectroscopy. Two data sets with different strategies, a low and a high-dose data set, were collected at synchrotron. We have observed earlier that the trinuclear site had an elongated electron density amidst coppers, suggesting dioxygen binding. The low-dose synchrotron structure showed similar elongated electron density, but the high-dose X-ray radiation removed the bulk of this density. Therefore, X-ray radiation could alter the active site of laccase from M. albomyces. Absorption spectra of the crystals (320, 420, and 590nm) during X-ray radiation were measured at a home laboratory. Spectra clearly showed how that the band at 590nm had vanished, resulting from the T1 copper being reduced, during the long X-ray measurements. The crystal colour changed from blue to colourless. Absorptions at 320 and 420nm seemed to be rather permanent. The absorption at 320nm is due to the T3 coppers and it is proposed that absorption at 420nm is due to the T2 copper when dioxygen or a reaction intermediate is close to this copper.     

Copper transfer from Rhus vernicifera laccase.

Tree laccase, a multi-copper oxidase, has been studied as a copper donor in conjunction with the demetalated forms of three blue copper proteins. Copper transfer could be observed under reducing conditions in the absence of air. Only about 10% of the total copper in laccase could be transferred regardless of the amount of acceptor present in solution, hence, the laccase is heterogeneous as isolated. Potential sources of the heterogeneity are considered. After transfer, laccase could be partially resolved into copper-deficient and nearly holoprotein fractions that would not donate copper when recombined with acceptor protein. EPR results in conjunction with thiol titrations indicate that there is no net loss of type 1 copper from laccase but that there is loss of type 2 copper as well as a small amount of type 3 copper. Very little transfer is observed when type 2-depleted laccase is used as the donor. Finally, the implications that these results could have in the elucidation of possibly more physiologically relevant processes are briefly summarized.     

Novel enzymatic oxidation of Mn2+ to Mn3+ catalyzed by a fungal laccase.

Fungal laccases are extracellular multinuclear copper-containing oxidases that have been proposed to be involved in ligninolysis and degradation of xenobiotics. Here, we show that an electrophoretically homogenous laccase preparation from the white rot fungus Trametes versicolor oxidized Mn2+ to Mn3+ in the presence of Na-pyrophosphate, with a Km value of 186 microM and a Vmax value of 0.11 micromol/min/mg protein at the optimal pH (5.0) and a Na-pyrophosphate concentration of 100 mM. The oxidation of Mn2+ involved concomitant reduction of the laccase type 1 copper site as usual for laccase reactions, thus providing the first evidence that laccase may directly utilize Mn2+ as a substrate.     

Substrate and dioxygen binding to the endospore coat laccase from Bacillus subtilis

The CotA laccase from the endospore coat of Bacillus subtilis has been crystallized in the presence of the non-catalytic co-oxidant 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), and the structure was determined using synchrotron radiation. The binding site for this adduct is well defined and indicates how ABTS, in conjunction with laccases, could act as an oxidative mediator toward non-phenolic moieties. In addition, a dioxygen moiety is clearly defined within the solvent channel oriented toward one of the T3 copper atoms in the trinuclear center.