Purification and characterization of a new laccase from Shiraia sp.SUPER-H168

A new laccase from Shiraia sp.SUPER-H168 was purified by ion exchange column chromatography and gel permeation chromatography and the apparent molecular mass of this enzyme was 70.78 kDa, as determined by MALDI/TOF-MS. The optimum pH value of the purified laccase was 4, 6, 5.5 and 3 with 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP), syringaldazine, guaiacol and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) as substrates, respectively. The optimum temperature of the purified laccase was 50 °C using DMP, syringaldazine and guaiacol as substrates, but 60 °C for ABTS. Inhibitors and metal ions of SDS, NaN₃, Ag⁺ and Fe³⁺ showed inhibition on enzyme activity of 10.22%, 7.86%, 8.13% and 67.50%, respectively. Fe²⁺ completely inhibited the purified laccase. The K_cat/K_m values of the purified laccase toward DMP, ABTS guaiacol and syringaldazine were 3.99 × 10⁶, 3.74 × 10⁷, 8.01 × 10⁴ and 2.35 × 10⁷ mol^?1 L S^?1, respectively. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified laccase showed 36.4% similarity to Pleurotus ostrestus. Approximately 66% of the Acid Blue 129 (100 mg L^?1) was decolorized by 2.5 U of the purified laccase after a 120 min incubation at 50 °C. Acid Red 1 (20 mg L^?1) and Reactive Black 5 (50 mg L^?1) were decolorized by the purified laccase after the addition of Acid Blue 129 (100 mg L^?1).     

Potential of Trametes trogii culture fluids and its purified laccase for the decolorization of different types of recalcitrant dyes without the addition of redox mediators

Trametes trogii BAFC 463 culture fluids (containing 110 U ml⁻¹ laccase; 0.94 U ml⁻¹ manganese peroxidase), as well as its purified laccase were capable of decolorizing azoic, indigoid, triphenylmethane, anthraquinonic and heterocyclic dyes, in the absence of redox mediators. Six dyes: RBBR, Indigo Carmine, Xylidine, Malachite Green, Gentian Violet and Bromophenol Blue were almost completely degraded (more than 85% decolorization after 1 d) by either laccase or T. trogii itself in culture, proving the role of the enzyme in dye decolorization. The purified laccase also decolorized 65% of Fast Blue RR and 30% of Azure B and Methylene Blue after 24 h. The use of redox mediators significantly increased the decolorization rates (90% decolorization of Azure B after 1 h). 1-hydroxybenzotriazole resulted the best redox mediator, but the natural mediator p-hydroxybenzoic acid also demonstrated its efficiency for dye decolorization. Due to their ability to decolorize recalcitrant dyes without addition of redox mediators, high laccase activities, high thermostability and efficient decolorization at 70 °C and pH 7.0, even in the presence of high concentrations of heavy metals (100 mM Cu⁺², Pb⁺² or Cd⁺²) or in a synthetic dyebath, T. trogii culture fluids could be effectively used to decolorize synthetic dyes from effluents.     

Laccase production and simultaneous decolorization of synthetic dyes in unique inexpensive medium by new isolates of white rot fungus

Morphological and biochemical analysis of the newly isolated white rot fungal (WRF-1) strain has ability to secrete laccase in the economical medium consisted of synthetic dyes, groundnut shell (GNS) and cyanobacterial biomass (algal bloom) under submerged shaking condition at pH 5.0 and 30 °C ± 2 °C temperature. WRF-1 strain was found to decolorize synthetic dyes efficiently at pH 5.0 and 30 °C ± 2 °C temperature. The laccase activity of strain was purified to homogeneity by chromatography with yield up to 70%. The molecular mass of laccase was found to be 70 kDa by SDS-PAGE and isoelectric point was 4.8. Biotransformation of the dyes was followed spectrophotometrically and dyes were found to decolorize completely after 6 days of fermentation. LC-MS studies were used to decipher the degradation profile of synthetic dyes by WRF-1. Indigo carmine gets degraded to isatin sulfonic acid and 4-amino-3-methylbenzenesulphonic acid whereas methyl orange degraded metabolites were identified as p-N,N′-dimethylamine phenyldiazine and p-hydroxybenzene sulfonic acid. Thus the study would give a road map for the production and application of laccase enzyme on a larger scale using low cost substrate.     

Decolorization of textile reactive dyes by the crude laccase produced from solid-state fermentation of agro-byproducts

Reactive dyes are one of the major sources of waste-water pollution. Efficient degradation of these dyes with enzymes produced from agricultural waste has attracted tremendous recent interests in both the scientific community and the general public. In this study, we took advantage of solid-state fermentation of four agro-byproducts (rape stem, wheat bran, peanut shell and rice hull) for producing laccase from the fungus Trametes sp. AH28-2. Higher laccase activities were obtained in multiple-substrates media than in single substrate media. The maximum yield of laccase (2.10 × 10⁶ U/kg) was obtained in the medium containing 60% rape stem, 20% peanut shell and 20% wheat bran, without the supplement of any toxic inducers. Our results further demonstrated that the textile reactive dyes Levafix Blue CA and Cibacron Blue FN-R (1.0 g/l) were completely decolorized by the crude laccase (5.0 U/l) obtained within 15 h in the absence of any mediator. Therefore, the agro-byproducts could be re-utilized to produce laccase for the decolorization of textile reactive dyes. Q.Y. Sun and Y.Z. Hong contributed equally to the study.     

Purification of recombinant laccase from Trametes versicolor in Pichia methanolica and its use for the decolorization of anthraquinone dye

A recombinant laccase from Trametes versicolor in Pichia methanolica was produced constitutively in a defined medium. The recombinant laccase was purified using ultrafiltration, anion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. The molecular weight of the purified laccase was estimated as 64 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The purified recombinant laccase decolorized more than 90% of Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) initially at 80 mg l⁻¹ after 16 h at 45°C and pH 5 when 25 U laccase ml⁻¹ was used. The purified recombinant laccase could efficiently decolorize RBBR without additional redox mediators.     

Characterization of a novel laccase from the isolated Coltricia perennis and its application to detoxification of biomass

A highly efficient laccase-producing fungus was isolated from soil and identified as Coltricia perennis SKU0322 by its morphology and by comparison of its internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA gene sequence. Extracellular laccase (Cplac) from C. perennis was purified to homogeneity by anion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Cplac is a monomeric glycoprotein with 12% carbohydrate content and a molecular mass of 66 kDa determined by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy observed type 1 and type 3 copper signals from Cplac. The enzyme acted optimally at pH 3–4 and 75 °C. Its optimal activity was with 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), it also oxidized various lignin-related phenols. The enzyme was characterized as a multi-copper blue laccase by its substrate specificity and internal amino acid sequence. It showed a higher catalytic efficiency towards ABTS (k_cat/K_m = 18.5 s^?1 μM^?1) and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (k_cat/K_m = 13.9 s^?1 μM^?1) than any other reported laccase. Its high stability and catalytic efficiency suggest its suitability for industrial applications: it detoxified phenolic compounds in acid-pretreated rice straw and enhanced saccharification yield.     

Decolorization of textile dyes by whole cultures of Ischnoderma resinosum and by purified laccase and Mn-peroxidase

Ischnoderma resinosum produced extracellular ligninolytic enzymes laccase and MnP. The activity of laccase achieved the maximum on day 10 (29.4 U L⁻¹), the MnP on day 14 (34.5 U L⁻¹). Laccase and Mn-peroxidase were purified from the culture liquid using gel permeation and ion-exchange chromatographies. Purified Mn-peroxidase performed decolorization of all textile dyes tested (Reactive Black 5, Reactive Blue 19, Reactive Red 22 and Reactive Yellow 15). Laccase was inactive with Reactive Black 5 and Reactive Red 22, while all dyes were decolorized after addition of the redox mediators violuric acid (VA) and hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT). The culture liquid from I. resinosum cultures was also able to decolorize all dyes as well as the synthetic dyebaths in the presence of VA and HBT. The highest decolorization rates were detected in acidic pH (3–4).     

A surfactant tolerant laccase of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meripilus giganteus</Emphasis>

A laccase (Lcc1) from the white-rot fungus Meripilus giganteus was purified with superior yields of 34% and 90% by conventional chromatography or by foam separation, respectively. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) yielded a molecular mass of 55 kDa. The enzyme possessed an isoelectric point of 3.1 and was able to oxidize the common laccase substrate 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) at a pH of 2.0, whereas the enzyme was still able to oxidize ABTS and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP) at pH 6.0. Lcc1 exhibited low K _m values of 8 μM (ABTS) and 80 μM (DMP) and remarkable catalytic efficiency towards the non-phenolic substrate ABTS of 37,437 k _cat/k _m (s⁻¹ mM⁻¹). The laccase showed a high stability towards high concentrations of various metal ions, EDTA and surfactants indicating a considerable biotechnological potential. Furthermore, Lcc1 exhibited an increased activity as well as a striking boost of stability in the presence of surfactants. Degenerated primers were deduced from peptide fragments. The complete coding sequence of lcc1 was determined to 1,551 bp and confirmed via amplification of the 2,214 bp genomic sequence which included 12 introns. The deduced 516 amino acid (aa) sequence of the lcc1 gene shared 82% identity and 90% similarity with a laccase from Rigidoporus microporus. The sequence data may aid theoretical studies and enzyme engineering efforts to create laccases with an improved stability towards metal ions and bipolar compounds.     

Decolorization of textile dyes by enzymatic extract and submerged cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus sajor-caju</Emphasis>

Pleurotus sajor-caju PS2001 was screened in Petri dish plates to assess the dye-decolorizing ability of industrial textile dyes. P. sajor-caju PS2001 was also cultivated in solid-state fermentation containing sawdust of Pinus sp. and wheat bran to obtain the enzymatic extract, showing laccase and manganese-peroxidase activity, which was used to test the capacity to degrade the textile dyes. Additional tests of decolorization were performed in liquid cultures. Anthraquinone-type textile dyes proved to be substrates for the enzymatic system of P. sajor-caju PS2001. Cultures in Petri dish plates showed that the anthraquinone dye Reactive Blue 220 can act as a redox mediator for the enzymatic reactions involved in the decolorization process, and enables the azo dye degradation. Reactive Blue 220 and Acid Blue 280 were completely decolorized in 30 min and 60 min, respectively, during the tests with precipitated enzymatic extract, while the azo dyes showed resistance to degradation. Additionally, in submerged cultures with dyes, veratryl alcohol oxidases and lignin peroxidase activities were observed. These results suggest that the strain P. sajor-caju PS2001 has great potential for use in the bioremediation technology of recalcitrant pollutant such as textile effluents.     

Overexpression of a Novel Thermostable and Chloride-Tolerant Laccase from Thermus thermophilus SG0.5JP17-16 in Pichia pastoris and Its Application in Synthetic Dye Decolorization

Laccases have been used for the decolorization and detoxification of synthetic dyes due to their ability to oxidize a wide variety of dyes with water as the sole byproduct. A putative laccase gene (LacTT) from Thermus thermophilus SG0.5JP17-16 was screened using the genome mining approach, and it was highly expressed in Pichia pastoris, yielding a high laccase activity of 6130 U/L in a 10-L fermentor. The LacTT open reading frame encoded a protein of 466 amino acid residues with four putative Cu-binding regions. The optimal pH of the recombinant LacTT was 4.5, 6.0, 7.5 and 8.0 with 2,2''-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), syringaldazine (SGZ), guaiacol, and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (2,6-DMP) as the substrate, respectively. The optimal temperature of LacTT was 90°C with guaiacol as the substrate. LacTT was highly stable at pH 4.0–11.0 and thermostable at 40°C–90°C, confirming that it is a pH-stable and thermostable laccase. Furthermore, LacTT also exhibited high tolerance to halides such as NaCl, NaBr and NaF, and decolorized 100%, 94%, 94% and 73% of Congo Red, Reactive Black B and Reactive Black WNN, and Remazol Brilliant Blue R, respectively. Interestingly, addition of high concentration of NaCl increased the RBBR decolorization efficiency of LacTT. These results suggest that LacTT is a good candidate for industrial applications such as dyestuff processing and degradation of dyes in textile wastewaters.     

Biochemical characterization of laccase from hairy root culture of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis> L. and role of redox mediators to enhance its potential for the decolorization of textile dyes

In vitro transgenic hairy root cultures provide a rapid system for physiological, biochemical studies and screening of plants for their phytoremediation potential. The hairy root cultures of Brassica juncea L. showed 92% decolorization of Methyl orange within 4 days. Out of the different redox mediators that were used to achieve enhanced decolorization, 2, 2′-Azinobis, 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) was found to be the most efficient. Laccase activity of 4.5 U mg⁻¹ of protein was observed in hairy root cultures of Brassica juncea L., after the decolorization of Methyl orange. Intracellular laccase produced by B. juncea root cultures grown in MS basal medium was purified up to 2.0 fold with 6.62 U mg⁻¹ specific activity using anion-exchange chromatography. Molecular weight of the purified laccase was estimated to be 148 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme efficiently oxidized ABTS which was also required for oxidation of the other tested substrates. The pH and temperature optimum for laccase activity were 4.0 and 40°C, respectively. The purified enzyme was stable up to 50°C and was stable in the pH range of 4.0–6.0. Laccase activity was strongly inhibited by sodium azide, EDTA, dithiothreitol and l-cysteine. The purified enzyme decolorized various textile dyes in the presence of ABTS as an efficient redox mediator. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the enzymatic process involved in phytoremediation of textile dyes by using hairy roots.     

Biochemical and molecular characterization of a novel laccase from selective lignin-degrading white-rot fungus Echinodontium taxodii 2538

A novel laccase was isolated and characterized from a new selective lignin-degrading white-rot fungus Echinodontium taxodii 2538, in which a high yield of laccase was obtained. No laccase isoenzyme was detected in the synthetic liquid media. The purified laccase (designated as EtL2538) had an apparent molecular mass of 56 kDa, pI value of 3.1, and N-terminal amino acid sequence of GIGPVTDLHIVNAAV. EtL2538 showed optimum pH at 3.0 and optimum temperature at 60 °C using ABTS as the substrate. EtL2538 revealed superior thermostability, and retained over 80% of its original activity after incubation for 2 h at 50 °C. The laccase gene, etl2538, was also cloned and sequenced. This gene encoded a mature laccase protein containing 499 amino acids (aa) preceded by a signal peptide of 21 aa, and the deduced protein sequence contained four copper-binding conserved domains of typical laccase protein. EtL2538 was further used in lignin oxidation and dye decolorization. Even without the existence of redox mediators, EtL2538 could cleave the methoxyl groups and β-O-4 ether linkages in lignin from bamboo, and significantly decolorize malachite green and RBBR. These novel properties of EtL2538 may render it as a potential biocatalyst for biotechnological and environmental applications.     

DyP-like peroxidases of the jelly fungus Auricularia auricula-judae oxidize nonphenolic lignin model compounds and high-redox potential dyes

The jelly fungus Auricularia auricula-judae produced an enzyme with manganese-independent peroxidase activity during growth on beech wood (∼300 U l⁻¹). The same enzymatic activity was detected and produced at larger scale in agitated cultures comprising of liquid, plant-based media (e.g. tomato juice suspensions) at levels up to 8,000 U l⁻¹. Two pure peroxidase forms (A. auricula-judae peroxidase (AjP I and AjP II) could be obtained from respective culture liquids by three chromatographic steps. Spectroscopic and electrophoretic analyses of the purified proteins revealed their heme and peroxidase nature. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of AjP matched well with sequences of fungal enzymes known as “dye-decolorizing peroxidases”. Homology was found to the N-termini of peroxidases from Marasmius scorodonius (up to 86%), Thanatephorus cucumeris (60%), and Termitomyces albuminosus (60%). Both enzyme forms catalyzed not only the conversion of typical peroxidase substrates such as 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylthiazoline-6-sulfonate) but also the decolorization of the high-redox potential dyes Reactive Blue 5 and Reactive Black 5, whereas manganese(II) ions (Mn²⁺) were not oxidized. Most remarkable, however, is the finding that both AjPs oxidized nonphenolic lignin model compounds (veratryl alcohol; adlerol, a nonphenolic β-O-4 lignin model dimer) at low pH (maximum activity at pH 1.4), which indicates a certain ligninolytic activity of dye-decolorizing peroxidases.     

Purification of a thermostable laccase from Leucaena leucocephala using a copper alginate entrapment approach and the application of the laccase in dye decolorization

Laccase from a tree legume, Leucaena leucocephala, was purified to homogeneity using a quick two-step procedure: alginate bead entrapment and celite adsorption chromatography. Laccase was purified 110.6-fold with an overall recovery of 51.0% and a specific activity of 58.5 units/mg. The purified laccase was found to be a heterodimer (∼220 kDa), containing two subunits of 100 and 120 kDa. The affinity of laccase was found to be highest for catechol and lowest for hydroquinone, however, highest K_cat and K_cat/K_m were obtained for hydroquinone. Purified laccase exhibited pH and temperature optima of 7.0 and 80 °C, respectively. Mn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Na⁺ activated laccase while Ca²⁺ treatment increased laccase activity up to 3 mM, beyond which it inhibited laccase. Co²⁺, Hg²⁺, DTT, SDS and EDTA showed an inhibition of laccase activity. The Leucaena laccase was found to be fairly tolerant to organic solvents; upon exposure for 1 h individually to 50% (v/v) each of ethanol, DMF, DMSO and benzene, more than 50% of the activity was retained, while in the presence of 50% (v/v) each of methanol, isopropanol and chloroform, a 40% residual activity was observed. The purified laccase efficiently decolorized synthetic dyes such as indigocarmine and congo red in the absence of any redox mediator.     

Characterization and kinetic properties of the purified Trematosphaeria mangrovei laccase enzyme

The properties of Trematosphaeria mangrovei laccase enzyme purified on Sephadex G-100 column were investigated. SDS–PAGE of the purified laccase enzyme showed a single band at 48 kDa. The pure laccase reached its maximal activity at temperature 65 °C, pH 4.0 with K_m equal 1.4 mM and V_max equal 184.84 U/mg protein. The substrate specificity of the purified laccase was greatly influenced by the nature and position of the substituted groups in the phenolic ring. The pure laccase was tested with some metal ions and inhibitors, FeSO₄ completely inhibited laccase enzyme and also highly affected by (NaN₃) at a concentration of 1 mM. Amino acid composition of the pure enzyme was also determined. Carbohydrate content of purified laccase enzyme was 23% of the enzyme sample. The UV absorption spectra of the purified laccase enzyme showed a single peak at 260–280 nm.     

Textile dye degrading laccase from Pseudomonas desmolyticum NCIM 2112

A laccase requiring optimum temperature 60 °C, pH 4.0 for the activity and having apparent molecular weight 43,000 Da was purified from Pseudomonas desmolyticum NCIM 2112 by three steps, including heating, anion exchange, and molecular sieve chromatography. The purification fold and yield of laccase obtained through Biogel P100 were 45.75 and 19%, respectively. Staining of native gel with L-dopa showed dark brown color band indicating the presence of laccase. In relation to hydroquinone, the substrate specificity of laccase was in the following order: DAB > o-tolidine > ABTS > L-dopa. The absence of monophenolase activity in eluted fractions conformed that the purified protein is laccase. This laccase showed substrate dependent optimum pH character. Effect of inhibitor and metal ion on enzyme activity was analyzed. UV–vis analysis showed the decolorization of Direct Blue-6, Green HE4B and Red HE7B in the presence of laccase. The FTIR spectral comparison between the control dye sample and the metabolites extracted after decolorization by purified laccase have confirmed degradation of these dyes. This study contributes for the structural requirement of a dye to be degradable by P. desmolyticum laccase and is important in order to optimize potential bioremediation systems for industrial textile process water treatment.     

Purification and characterization of a periplasmic laccase produced by Sinorhizobium meliloti

Sinorhizobium meliloti CE52G strain produces a periplasmic laccase that has been purified by a two-step procedure involving heat treatment and immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). The fraction with laccase activity retained its original activity after 24 h of incubation at pH between 4.0 and 8.0 and after 3 h of incubation at 70 °C, pH 7.2 and supplemented with 1.3 M (NH₄)₂SO₄. It proved to be a homodimeric protein with an apparent molecular mass of 45 kDa each subunit and an isoelectric point of 6.2. CE52G laccase was inhibited by halides (NaF and NaCl), ions (Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, and Cu²⁺), sulfhydryl organic compounds (β-mercaptoethanol and reduced glutathione), and electron flow inhibitors (NaCN and NaF). Laccase activity was strongly enhanced by (NH₄)₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄, and K₂SO₄. The effects of all these agents, as well as the probability of a partially unfolding polypeptide chain to enhance the interaction between the substrate and the active site, are discussed. CE52G laccase is a pH- and thermo-stable protein with promising biotechnological applications.     

An acid-tolerant lectin coupled with high Hg2+ potentiated hemagglutination enhancing property purified from Amanita hemibapha var. ochracea

A 37.4 kDa acid tolerant lectin was isolated and purified from dried fruiting bodies of Amanita hemibapha var. ochracea designated as AHL. The lectin was not adsorbed on DEAE-cellulose, but rather adsorbed on S-Sepharose and subjected to gel filtration by fast protein liquid chromatography on Superdex 75. The purified lectin was immune from inhibition activities of metal ions. More over, AHL exhibited high agglutination activity on rabbit erythrocytes with accelerating Hg²⁺ ions concentration. Partial peptide sequence analysis (VSNNLLTGPKVVR) of this lectin showed relative similarity to phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase [ATP]-like protein as predicted from Fragaria vesca subsp. Vesca. Interestingly, AHL displayed a strong affinity toward α-Lactose, making our study the first report associating Amanita species’ lectin specificity for α-Lactose to the best of our knowledge.     

Purification and partial characterization of an acid phosphatase from the body wall of sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus

A high molecular weight (HMW) acid phosphatase from the body wall of sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus was purified to homogeneity by a combination of anion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The enzyme was purified 19.3-fold with a total yield of 1.2%. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the purified enzyme showed a single protein band of MW 147.9 kDa. The enzyme displayed maximum activity at pH 4.0 and 50 °C with p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate. The enzyme activity appeared to be stable over pH 2.0–5.0 and up to 40 °C. The enzyme activity was enhanced slightly by Mg²⁺, whereas inhibited strongly by Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. The enzyme hydrolyzes several phosphate esters, suggesting a probable non-specific nature. The amino acid sequences of three segments of the purified enzyme were analyzed by mass spectroscopy, which did not have any homology with previously described acid phosphatase.