Influence of reaction conditions on the rate of enzymic polymerization of pyrogallol using laccase

Polymerization potential of a bacterial CotA-laccase for β-naphthol: enzyme structure and comprehensive polymer characterization

Introduction

Laccases are blue-multicopper containing enzymes that are known to play a role in the bioconversion of recalcitrant compounds. Their role in free radical polymerization of aromatic compounds for their valorization remains underexplored. In this study, we used a pBAD plasmid containing a previously characterized CotA laccase gene (abbreviated as Bli-Lacc) from Bacillus licheniformis strain ATCC 9945a to express this enzyme and explore its biotransformation/polymerization potential on β-naphthol.

Methods

The protein was expressed from TOP10 cells of Escherichia coli after successful transformation of the plasmid. Immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) was used to generate pure protein. The biocatalytic polymerization reaction was optimized based on temperature, pH and starting enzyme concentration. 1H and 13C solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and solid-state NMR (ssNMR) were used to characterize the formed polymer. A one-gram conversion reaction was done to explore applicability of the reaction in a pilot-scale.

Results

The polymerization reaction generated a brown precipitate, and its chemical structure was confirmed using 1H and 13C NMR and FTIR. SsNMR revealed the presence of two different orientational hydroxyl functional groups in the polymer in addition to the presence of a very small amount of ether linkages (< 2%). This analysis elucidated that polymerization occurred mainly on the carbons of the aromatic rings, rather than on the carbons attached to the hydroxyl groups, resulting in a condensed ring or polynuclear aromatic structure. The reaction was optimized, and the highest yield was attained under conditions of 37°C, pH 10 and a starting enzyme concentration of 440 nM in 50 mM phosphate buffer. A one-gram conversion yielded 216 mg of polymer as dry mass. The crystal structure of the enzyme was solved at 2.7 Å resolution using X-ray crystallography and presented with a hexagonal space group. The final structure was deposited in the Protein Databank (PDB) with an ID-9BD5.

Discussion

This article provides a green/enzymatic pathway for the remediation of phenolics and their valorization into potential useful polymeric materials. The comprehensive analysis of the formed polymer provides insight into its structure and functional moieties present. Based on the yield of the one-gram conversion, this synthetic method proves useful for a pilot-scale production level and opens opportunities to invest in using this polymer for industrial/environmental applications.

Synthesis of biologically derived poly(pyrogallol) nanofibers for antibacterial applications

Herein, we present the facile synthesis of poly(pyrogallol) biopolymers and their application as antibacterial agents. Pyrogallol is a class of phenolic compounds that can be found in various plants. Polymerization was performed by the auto-oxidation of pyrogallol under a hydrated condition. The microscopic image of poly(pyrogallol) shows a highly homogenous nanofibrous structure with a diameter of 100.3 ± 16.3 nm. Spectroscopic analysis by FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and XPS corroborated the formation of ether (C-O-C) bonds between the hydroxyl group and adjacent carbons of pyrogallol during polymerization. The FT-IR and XPS spectra also revealed redox-active gallol functional groups on poly(pyrogallol) nanofibers, which can be used to release free electrons and protons during oxidation followed by the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The generated ROS from poly(pyrogallol) was used to inhibit the growth of bacteria, Escherichia coli, at a inhibition rates of 56.3 ± 9.7% and 95.5 ± 2.0% within 0.5 and 2 h, respectively. This finding suggests that poly(pyrogallol) can be used as a naturally occurring antibacterial agent for various biomedical and environmental applications.

Plant seed-inspired cell protection, dormancy, and growth for large-scale biofabrication

Biofabrication technologies have endowed us with the capability to fabricate complex biological constructs. However, cytotoxic biofabrication conditions have been a major challenge for their clinical application, leading to a trade-off between cell viability and scalability of biofabricated constructs. Taking inspiration from nature, we proposed a cell protection strategy which mimicks the protected and dormant state of plant seeds in adverse external conditions and their germination in response to appropriate environmental cues. Applying this bioinspired strategy to biofabrication, we successfully preserved cell viability and enhanced the seeding of cell-laden biofabricated constructs via a cytoprotective pyrogallol (PG)-alginate encapsulation system. Our cytoprotective encapsulation technology utilizes PG-triggered sporulation and germination processes to preserve cells, is mechanically robust, chemically resistant, and highly customizable to adequately match cell protectability with cytotoxicity of biofabrication conditions. More importantly, the facile and tunable decapsulation of our PG-alginate system allows for effective germination of dormant cells, under typical culture conditions. With this approach, we have successfully achieved a biofabrication process which is reproducible, scalable, and provided a practical solution for off-the-shelf availability, shipping and temporary storage of fabricated bio-constructs.

Application of multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) for resolving pyrogallol autoxidation in weakly alkaline aqueous solutions

Multivariate curve resolution — alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) has been applied to data collected from UV/Vis spectrophotometric analysis of the autoxidation process of pyrogallol in weakly alkaline aqueous solutions. The MCR-ALS analysis was able to explain the autoxidation kinetics of pyrogallol at pH 7.4 and 8.0, allowing deduction of the pure spectra and concentration changes of different species present throughout the entire process. The autoxidation process at pH 7.4 was found to follow a first-order reaction model, with formation of purpurogallin as the sole and terminal product. Changing the pH to 8.0 not only accelerated autoxidation of pyrogallol to purpurogallin but also introduced a further autoxidation of purpurogallin. At pH 8.0 the process fits a model of two consecutive first-order reactions. The first step is formation of purpurogallin, which reacts in a further autoxidation to form a yellow colored substance, most probably purpurogallin polymer.