Laccase Properties, Physiological Functions, and Evolution

Abstract

Discovered in 1883, laccase is one of the first enzymes ever described. Now, after almost 140 years of research, it seems that this copper-containing protein with a number of unique catalytic properties is widely distributed across all kingdoms of life. Laccase belongs to the superfamily of multicopper oxidases (MCOs)—a group of enzymes comprising many proteins with different substrate specificities and diverse biological functions. The presence of cupredoxin-like domains allows all MCOs to reduce oxygen to water without producing harmful byproducts. This review describes structural characteristics and plausible evolution of laccase in different taxonomic groups. The remarkable catalytic abilities and broad substrate specificity of laccases are described in relation to other copper-containing MCOs. Through an exhaustive analysis of laccase roles in different taxa, we find that this enzyme evolved to serve an important, common, and protective function in living systems.

Current Development in Decolorization of Synthetic Dyes by Immobilized Laccases

“…Laccase is a monomeric, dimeric, or a tetrameric glycoprotein, which oxidizes a broad spectrum of phenolic and non-phenolic substrates (Giardina et al, 2010). By now, many laccases have been discovered, and as a family, they show different structures and functions depending on their source as they can be widely found in eukaryotes as well as prokaryotes (Deska and Kończak, 2019); including higher plants, bacteria, insects, fungi, and recently mammals (Giardina et al, 2010;Janusz et al, 2020). As for the mechanism of action of laccases, they catalyze three types of reactions using oxygen atom and releasing water molecule: (i) direct oxidation of phenolic substrates, (ii) indirect oxidation of non-phenolic substrates with high redox potential in the presence of a natural or synthetic low molecular weight mediator (Breen and Singleton, 1999;Agrawal et al, 2018), and (iii) coupling reactions with reactive intermediate radicals formed during direct oxidation (Polak and Jarosz-Wilkolazka, 2012).…”

Crop residues used as lignocellulose materials for particleboards formulation

“…Chemical modification of the lignin have been developed such as demethylation [60], methylolation [61,62,63,64], phenolation [65,66,67,68], sulphonation [67,69] and oxidation [70]. Other ways of improving the reactivity of lignin is by use of fungi metabolism [71,72]. In methylation, methyl group from lignin is replaced with hydroxyl group [73] as shown in the Figure 4.…”

Aplicação De Lacases Em Síntese Orgânica Para Obtenção De Bioativos Com Atividade Antioxidante: Uma Revisão

“…Quando proveniente de bactérias, lacases são relacionadas aos processos de síntese de pigmentos marrons nos esporos e proteção contra a luz UV. Também possuem importantes funções na homeostase do íon cobre e na morfogênese (CHAUHAN, GORADIA e SAXENA, 2017;SHARMA et al, 2018;JANUSZ et al, 2020). O primeiro relato da ocorrência de lacase foi feito em 1883 através de um estudo da secreção leitosa, urushi, árvore chinesa/japonesa Rhus vernicifera (GAVNHOLT e LARSEN, 2002;JANUSZ et al, 2020).…”

“…Também possuem importantes funções na homeostase do íon cobre e na morfogênese (CHAUHAN, GORADIA e SAXENA, 2017;SHARMA et al, 2018;JANUSZ et al, 2020). O primeiro relato da ocorrência de lacase foi feito em 1883 através de um estudo da secreção leitosa, urushi, árvore chinesa/japonesa Rhus vernicifera (GAVNHOLT e LARSEN, 2002;JANUSZ et al, 2020). Lacases tem sido isoladas de plantas como feijão, pinho, mung e ameixa e também da família botânica de Anacardiaceae, contudo, ainda é escasso o uso de lacases vegetais em aplicações industriais (WANG et al, 2015;JANUSZ et al, 2020 -HOYOS et al, 2013;CHAUHAN, GORADIA e SAXENA, 2017;BRUGNARI et al, 2018;JANUSZ et al, 2020).…”