Heterologous expression of laccase cDNA from Ceriporiopsis subvermispora yields copper-activated apoprotein and complex isoform patterns

Catalytic function of the laccase enzyme in response to chlorpyrifos and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid: behavior in controlled and simulated environments

Enzymes secreted by white-rot fungi, such as laccase, offer a promising solution for treating xenobiotic compounds dangerous to the environment and human health. This study aimed to perform a comprehensive analysis of the tolerance of Pleurotus pulmonarius LBM 105 and its laccase activity toward the pesticides 2,4-D and chlorpyrifos both in vitro and in silico. The fungal strain was able to grow in different concentrations of the pesticides, showing evident morphological alterations. Laccase activity and a 53 kDa electromorph were present in all treatments, showing significant stability with peak activity achieved at a pH of 5.6 and within a temperature range of 50-60 °C. Three laccase genes were mapped, annotated, and characterized from the genome. PplacI obtained better structural validation and affinity energy of - 5.05 and - 7.65 kcal mol-1 with 2,4-D and chlorpyrifos, respectively. The Molecular Mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area analysis at 250 ns confirmed the docking results, revealing the existence of stronger hydrophobic interactions between laccase and chlorpyrifos and highlighting the importance of the Phe341 residue in stabilizing both complexes. Understanding the impact of pesticides on laccase's catalytic function is key to formulating and applying future biotechnological strategies with this enzyme.

Biocatalytic Synthesis of Nitrile-Bearing All-Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters

The synthesis of all-carbon quaternary stereocenters containing nitriles is a very important and challenging subject in organic chemistry. We used a biocatalytic approach under mild conditions to obtain new derivatives of these scaffolds by oxidation of catechols by Myceliophthora thermophila laccase (Novozym 51003) to afford o-quinones and 1,4-addition of a series of carbon nucleophiles containing tertiary alkyle nitriles to these intermediates. Using this approach, α-cyano carbonyls bearing a quaternary stereocenter were also prepared. Finally, the yields for the prepared compounds were 72-94%.

Laccase: Various types and applications

Laccase belongs to the polyphenol oxidase family and is very important in removing environmental pollutants due to its structural and functional properties. Recently, the ability of laccase to oxidize phenolic and nonphenolic substances has been considered by many researchers. This enzyme's application scope includes a broad range of chemical processes and industrial usages, such as bioremediation, nanobiotechnology, woodworking industries, bleaching of paper pulp, dyeing in the textile industry, biotechnological uses in food industries, biorefining, detoxification from wastewater, production of organic matter from phenolic and amine substrates, and biofuels. Although filamentous fungi produce large amounts of laccase, high-yield industrial-scale production of laccase is still faced with many problems. At present, researchers are trying to increase the efficiency and productivity and reduce the final price of laccase by finding suitable microorganisms and improving the process of production and purification of laccase. This article reviews the introduction of laccase, its properties, production processes, and the effect of various factors on the enzyme's stability and activity, and some of its applications in various industries.

Signal peptide replacement resulted in recombinant homologous expression of laccase Lcc8 in Coprinopsis cinerea

Although the model agaricomycete Coprinopsis cinerea possess 17 different laccase genes, up to now only four C. cinerea laccases have been purified and characterized to some degree. By exchanging the nucleotide sequence of the deduced signal peptide of Lcc8 it was possible to homologously express lcc8 in C. cinerea under control of the Agaricus bisporus gdpII promoter and the C. cinerea lcc1 terminator. The purified Lcc8 showed two bands in the SDS-PAGE with a molecular weight of 64 kDa and 77 kDa, respectively. The IEF determined pI values of 3.3 and 3.4 for both bands. The optimal pH for oxidation of the substrates ABTS, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, guaiacol and syringaldazine was pH 4.0, pH 5.0, pH 4.5 and pH 5.0, respectively. Best pH for enzyme storage was pH 8.0. The optimal temperature for oxidation of ABTS was 63 °C, while Lcc8 showed activity of at least 50% over 300 min at 50 °C. The comparable high stability of Lcc8 at alkaline pH and higher temperatures can be of interest for biotechnical applications.

Laccase production and pellet morphology of Coprinopsis cinerea transformants in liquid shake flask cultures

Laccase production and pellet formation of transformants of Coprinopsis cinerea strain FA2222 of C. cinerea laccase gene lcc1 subcloned behind the gpdII-promoter from Agaricus bisporus were compared with a control transformant carrying no extra laccase gene. At the optimum growth temperature of 37 °C, maximal laccase yields of 2.9 U/ml were obtained by the best lcc1 transformant pYSK7-26 in liquid shake flask cultures. Reduction in temperature to 25 °C increased laccase yields up to 9.2 U/ml. The control transformant had no laccase activities at 37 °C but native activity at 25 °C (3.5 U/ml). Changing the temperature had severe effects on the morphology of the mycelial pellets formed during cultivation, but links of distinct pellet morphologies to native or recombinant laccase production could not be established. Automated image analysis was used to characterise pellet formation and morphological parameters (pellet area, diameter, convexity and mycelial structure). Cross sections of selected pellets showed that they differentiated in an outer rind and an inner medulla of loosened hyphae. Pellets at 25 °C had a small and dense outer zone and adopted with time a smooth surface. Pellets at 37 °C had a broader outer zone and a fringy surface due to generation of more and larger protuberances in the rind that when released can serve for production of further pellets.

Degradation of olive mill wastewater by the induced extracellular ligninolytic enzymes of two wood-rot fungi

Olive mill wastewater (OMWW) is a major problem in olive oil - producing countries, due to its high organic load and concentration in phenols that are toxic for marine life, plants and soil microorganisms. In the present study, two mushroom species were tested in regard to their OMWW's oxidative capacity, Pleurotus citrinopileatus LGAM 28684 and Irpex lacteus LGAM 238. OMWW (25% v/v) degradation was investigated for several culture conditions, namely pH, agitation speed, nitrogen-based supplements and their concentration. The selected values were pH 6, agitation rate 150 rpm, 30 g L^-1 corn steep liquor as nitrogen source for P. citrinopileatus and 20 g L^-1 diammonium tartrate for I. lacteus. The two strains performed well in cultures supplemented with OMWW, generating very high titers of oxidative enzymes and achieving more than 90% color and phenols reduction within a 24 days cultivation period. In addition, the amount of glucans present in the fungal biomass was assessed. Hence, P. citrinopileatus and I. lacteus appear as potent degraders of OMWW with the ability to use the effluent as a substrate for the production of biotechnologically important enzymes and valuable fungal glucans.

Yeast Hosts for the Production of Recombinant Laccases: A Review

Laccases are multi-copper oxidoreductases which catalyze the oxidation of a wide range of substrates during the simultaneous reduction of oxygen to water. These enzymes, originally found in fungi, plants, and other natural sources, have many industrial and biotechnological applications. They are used in the food, textile, pulp, and paper industries, as well as for bioremediation purposes. Although natural hosts can provide relatively high levels of active laccases after production optimization, heterologous expression can bring, moreover, engineered enzymes with desired properties, such as different substrate specificity or improved stability. Hence, diverse hosts suitable for laccase production are reviewed here, while the greatest emphasis is placed on yeasts which are commonly used for industrial production of various proteins. Different approaches to optimize the laccase expression and activity are also discussed in detail here.

Induction of lcc2 expression and activity by Agaricus bisporus provides defence against Trichoderma aggressivum toxic extracts

Laccases are used by fungi for several functions including defence responses to stresses associated with attack by other fungi. Laccase activity changes and the induction of two laccase genes, lcc1 and lcc2, in Agaricus bisporus were measured in response to toxic extracts of medium in which Trichoderma aggressivum, the cause of green mould disease, was grown. A strain of A. bisporus that shows resistance to the extracts showed higher basal levels and greater enzymatic activity after extract exposure than did a sensitive strain. Furthermore, pre-incubation of T. aggressivum extract with laccases reduced toxicity. Faster induction and greater numbers of lcc2 transcripts in response to the extract were noted in the resistant strain than in the sensitive strain. The timing and increase in lcc2 transcript abundance mirrored changes in total laccase activity. No correlation between resistance and lcc1 transcription was apparent. Transcript abundance in transformants with a siRNA construct homologous to both genes varied widely. A strong negative correlation between transcript abundance and sensitivity of the transformant to toxic extract was observed in plate assays. These results indicated that laccase activity and in particular that encoded by lcc2 contributes to toxin metabolism and by extension green mould disease resistance.

Laccase production and metabolic diversity among Flammulina velutipes strains

Twelve Flammulina velutipes strains originating from Poland were identified using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequencing. Based on the sequences obtained, the genomic relationship of the analyzed strains was determined. All F. velutipes strains were also characterized using Biolog FF MicroPlates to obtain data on C-substrate utilization and mitochondrial activity. The ability to decompose various substrates differed among the F. velutipes strains up to five times. The highest catabolic activities were characteristic for only two strains with capabilities to decompose up to 22 carbon sources. The correlation between carbon repression and laccase production by F. velutipes was analyzed based on glucose assimilation by these strains. Moreover, the influence of metal ions (Cu(2+), Cd(2+)), veratric and ferulic acids, and temperature on laccase activities in the analyzed strains was determined. The results obtained proved that all the inducers influenced laccase expression in almost all the analyzed strains. However, the degree of induction depended not only on the strain used but also on the day of the induction.

Copper-Dependent Production of aPycnoporus coccineusExtracellular Laccase inAspergillus oryzaeandSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Laccase is a multicopper-containing enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of phenolic compounds. lcc1 cDNA coding for a secretory laccase of Pycnoporus coccineus was expressed under the maltose inducible amyB promoter in Aspergillus oryzae and under the galactose inducible GAL10 promoter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Laccase activities, which were undetectable in the absence of copper, were observed by increasing copper concentrations in the media for both systems. The amounts of secreted laccase protein but not lcc1 mRNA increased in proportion to copper concentrations in A. oryzae. The extracellular activities of native A. oryzae amylase and recombinant RNase-T1 expressed from the same amyB promoter in A. oryzae were constant regardless of copper concentrations. Our results indicate that a high copper concentration is required for the production of active laccase in heterologous hosts and that the copper is required for a post-transcriptional process.

Fungal laccases and their applications in bioremediation

Laccases are blue multicopper oxidases, which catalyze the monoelectronic oxidation of a broad spectrum of substrates, for example, ortho- and para-diphenols, polyphenols, aminophenols, and aromatic or aliphatic amines, coupled with a full, four-electron reduction of O₂ to H₂O. Hence, they are capable of degrading lignin and are present abundantly in many white-rot fungi. Laccases decolorize and detoxify the industrial effluents and help in wastewater treatment. They act on both phenolic and nonphenolic lignin-related compounds as well as highly recalcitrant environmental pollutants, and they can be effectively used in paper and pulp industries, textile industries, xenobiotic degradation, and bioremediation and act as biosensors. Recently, laccase has been applied to nanobiotechnology, which is an increasing research field, and catalyzes electron transfer reactions without additional cofactors. Several techniques have been developed for the immobilization of biomolecule such as micropatterning, self-assembled monolayer, and layer-by-layer techniques, which immobilize laccase and preserve their enzymatic activity. In this review, we describe the fungal source of laccases and their application in environment protection.

Effect of copper, nutrient nitrogen, and wood-supplement on the production of lignin-modifying enzymes by the white-rot fungus Phlebia radiata

Production of the oxidoreductive lignin-modifying enzymes - lignin and manganese peroxidases (MnPs), and laccase - of the white-rot basidiomycete Phlebia radiata was investigated in semi-solid cultures supplemented with milled grey alder or Norway spruce and charcoal. Concentrations of nutrient nitrogen and Cu-supplement varied also in the cultures. According to extracellular activities, production of both lignin peroxidase (LiP) and MnP was significantly promoted with wood as carbon source, with milled alder (MA) and low nitrogen (LN) resulting with the maximal LiP activities (550 nkat l(-1)) and noticeable levels of MnP (3 μkat l(-1)). Activities of LiP and MnP were also elevated on high nitrogen (HN) complex medium when supplemented with spruce and charcoal. Maximal laccase activities (22 and 29 μkat l(-1)) were obtained in extra high nitrogen (eHN) containing defined and complex media supplemented with 1.5 mM Cu(2+). However, the nitrogen source, either peptone or ammonium nitrate and asparagine, caused no stimulation on laccase production without Cu-supplement. This is also the first report to demonstrate a new, on high Cu(2+) amended medium produced extracellular laccase of P. radiata with pI value of 4.9, thereby complementing our previous findings on gene expression, and cloning of a second laccase of this fungus.

Comparative genomics of Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Phanerochaete chrysosporium provide insight into selective ligninolysis

Efficient lignin depolymerization is unique to the wood decay basidiomycetes, collectively referred to as white rot fungi. Phanerochaete chrysosporium simultaneously degrades lignin and cellulose, whereas the closely related species, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, also depolymerizes lignin but may do so with relatively little cellulose degradation. To investigate the basis for selective ligninolysis, we conducted comparative genome analysis of C. subvermispora and P. chrysosporium. Genes encoding manganese peroxidase numbered 13 and five in C. subvermispora and P. chrysosporium, respectively. In addition, the C. subvermispora genome contains at least seven genes predicted to encode laccases, whereas the P. chrysosporium genome contains none. We also observed expansion of the number of C. subvermispora desaturase-encoding genes putatively involved in lipid metabolism. Microarray-based transcriptome analysis showed substantial up-regulation of several desaturase and MnP genes in wood-containing medium. MS identified MnP proteins in C. subvermispora culture filtrates, but none in P. chrysosporium cultures. These results support the importance of MnP and a lignin degradation mechanism whereby cleavage of the dominant nonphenolic structures is mediated by lipid peroxidation products. Two C. subvermispora genes were predicted to encode peroxidases structurally similar to P. chrysosporium lignin peroxidase and, following heterologous expression in Escherichia coli, the enzymes were shown to oxidize high redox potential substrates, but not Mn(2+). Apart from oxidative lignin degradation, we also examined cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic systems in both fungi. In summary, the C. subvermispora genetic inventory and expression patterns exhibit increased oxidoreductase potential and diminished cellulolytic capability relative to P. chrysosporium.

Improved biomass saccharification by Trichoderma reesei through heterologous expression of lacA gene from Trametes sp. AH28-2

The Trametes sp. AH28-2 laccase gene lacA fused to cellobiohydrolase I signal peptide coding sequence was heterologously expressed in T. reesei. The lacA cDNA was under the control of the Aspergillus nidulans glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter. Native PAGE analysis indicated that two transformants, L8 and L38, were able to secrete recombinant laccase A, and their laccase activities corresponding to ABTS oxidation reached 3.62 IUml(-1) and 1.50 IUml(-1) respectively. Most of the characteristics of the recombinant laccase were similar to those of the native enzyme. Reducing sugar yields of L8 and L38 obtained from saccharification of corn residue by crude enzyme increased by 31.3% and 71.6% respectively compared to the host strain. These results indicated that the engineering strains developed in this work could be potentially used for laccase production and tailoring cellulase properties with laccase proteins through genetic manipulation would be a feasible strategy to improve saccharification efficiency of biomass by cellulase preparation.

Engineering platforms for directed evolution of Laccase from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus

While the Pycnoporus cinnabarinus laccase (PcL) is one of the most promising high-redox-potential enzymes for environmental biocatalysis, its practical use has to date remained limited due to the lack of directed evolution platforms with which to improve its features. Here, we describe the construction of a PcL fusion gene and the optimization of conditions to induce its functional expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, facilitating its directed evolution and semirational engineering. The native PcL signal peptide was replaced by the α-factor preproleader, and this construct was subjected to six rounds of evolution coupled to a multiscreening assay based on the oxidation of natural and synthetic redox mediators at more neutral pHs. The laccase total activity was enhanced 8,000-fold: the evolved α-factor preproleader improved secretion levels 40-fold, and several mutations in mature laccase provided a 13.7-fold increase in k(cat). While the pH activity profile was shifted to more neutral values, the thermostability and the broad substrate specificity of PcL were retained. Evolved variants were highly secreted by Aspergillus niger (∼23 mg/liter), which addresses the potential use of this combined-expression system for protein engineering. The mapping of mutations onto the PcL crystal structure shed new light on the oxidation of phenolic and nonphenolic substrates. Furthermore, some mutations arising in the evolved preproleader highlighted its potential for heterologous expression of fungal laccases in yeast (S. cerevisiae).

The Aspergillus niger multicopper oxidase family: analysis and overexpression of laccase-like encoding genes

BACKGROUND

Many filamentous fungal genomes contain complex groups of multicopper oxidase (MCO) coding genes that makes them a good source for new laccases with potential biotechnological interest. A bioinformatics analysis of the Aspergillus niger ATCC 1015 genome resulted in the identification of thirteen MCO genes. Ten of them were cloned and homologously overexpressed.

RESULTS

A bioinformatic analysis of the A. niger ATCC 1015 genome revealed the presence of 13 MCO genes belonging to three different subfamilies on the basis of their phylogenetic relationships: ascomycete laccases, fungal pigment MCOs and fungal ferroxidases. According to in silico amino acid sequence analysis, the putative genes encoding for functional extracellular laccases (mcoA, mcoB, mcoC, mcoD, mcoE, mcoF, mcoG, mcoI, mcoJ and mcoM) were placed under the control of the glaA promoter and overexpressed in A. niger N593. Enzyme activity plate assays with several common laccase substrates showed that all genes are actually expressed and code for active MCOs. Interestingly, expressed enzymes show different substrate specificities. In addition, optimization of fungal pigment MCOs extracellular production was investigated. The performance of the widely used glucoamylase signal sequence (ssGlaA) in McoA secretion was studied. Results obtained suggest that ssGlaA do not yield higher levels of secreted McoA when compared to its native secretion signal. Also, McoB synthesis was investigated using different nitrogen sources in minimal medium liquid cultures. Higher yields of extracellular McoB were achieved with (NH4)2 tartrate.

CONCLUSIONS

Aspergillus niger is a good source of new laccases. The different substrate specificity observed in plate assays makes them interesting to be purified and biochemically compared. The homologous signal sequence of McoA has been shown to be a good choice for its extracellular overexpression. From the nitrogen sources tested (NH4)2 tartrate has been found to be the most appropriate for McoB production in A. niger.

Heterologous laccase production and its role in industrial applications

Laccases are blue multicopper oxidases, catalyzing the oxidation of an array of aromatic substrates concomitantly with the reduction of molecular oxygen to water. These enzymes are implicated in a variety of biological activities. Most of the laccases studied thus far are of fungal origin. The large range of substrates oxidized by laccases has raised interest in using them within different industrial fields, such as pulp delignification, textile dye bleaching, and bioremediation. Laccases secreted from native sources are usually not suitable for large-scale purposes, mainly due to low production yields and high cost of preparation/purification procedures. Heterologous expression may provide higher enzyme yields and may permit to produce laccases with desired properties (such as different substrate specificities, or improved stabilities) for industrial applications. This review surveys researches on heterologous laccase expression focusing on the pivotal role played by recombinant systems towards the development of robust tools for greening modern industry.

Decolorization of different dyes by a newly isolated white-rot fungi strain Ganoderma sp.En3 and cloning and functional analysis of its laccase gene

A laccase-producing white-rot fungi strain Ganoderma sp.En3 was newly isolated from the forest of Tzu-chin Mountain in China. Ganoderma sp.En3 had a strong ability of decolorizing four synthetic dyes, two simulated dye bath effluents and the real textile dye effluent. Induction in the activity of laccase during the decolorization process indicated that laccase played an important role in the efficient decolorization of different dyes by this fungus. Phytotoxicity study with respect to Triticum aestivum and Oryza sativa demonstrated that Ganoderma sp.En3 was able to detoxify four synthetic dyes, two simulated dye effluents and the real textile dye effluent. The laccase gene lac-En3-1 and its corresponding full-length cDNA were then cloned and characterized from Ganoderma sp.En3. The deduced protein sequence of LAC-En3-1 contained four copper-binding conserved domains of typical laccase protein. The functionality of lac-En3-1 gene encoding active laccase was verified by expressing this gene in the yeast Pichia pastoris successfully. The recombinant laccase produced by the yeast transformant could decolorize the synthetic dyes, simulated dye effluents and the real textile dye effluent. The ability of decolorizing different dyes was positively related to the laccase activity. In addition, the 5'-flanking sequence upstream of the start codon ATG in lac-En3-1 gene was obtained. Many putative cis-acting responsive elements were predicted in the promoter region of lac-En3-1.

Cloning and functional analysis of a new laccase gene from Trametes sp. 48424 which had the high yield of laccase and strong ability for decolorizing different dyes

The laccase gene lac48424-1 and its corresponding full-length cDNA were cloned and characterized from a novel white-rot fungi Trametes sp. 48424 which had the high yield of laccase and strong ability for decolorizing different dyes. The 1563 bp full-length cDNA of lac48424-1 encoded a mature laccase protein containing 499 amino acids preceded by a signal peptide of 21 amino acids. The deduced protein sequence of LAC48424-1 showed high similarity with other known fungal laccases and contained four copper-binding conserved domains of typical laccase protein. The functionality of lac48424-1 gene encoding active laccase was verified by expressing the gene in the yeast Pichia pastoris successfully. It was found that the recombinant laccase produced by the yeast transformant could decolorize different dyes. The 5'-flanking sequence upstream of start codon was obtained by Self-Formed Adaptor PCR. Many putative cis-acting responsive elements involved in the transcriptional regulation were identified in the promoter region of lac48424-1.

Effect of manganese on the secretion of manganese-peroxidase by the basidiomycete Ceriporiopsis subvermispora

The ligninolytic machinery of the widely used model fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora includes the enzymes manganese-peroxidase (MnP) and laccase (Lcs). In this work the effect of Mn(II) on the secretion of MnP was studied. Cultures grown in the absence of Mn(II) showed high levels of mnp transcripts. However, almost no MnP enzyme was detected in the extracellular medium, either by enzymatic activity assays or Western blot hybridizations. In the corresponding mycelia, immuno-electron microscopy experiments showed high levels of MnP enzyme within intracellular compartments. These results suggest that in addition to its well-known effect on transcription regulation of mnp genes, manganese influences secretion of MnP to the extracellular medium. Experiments carried out in the presence of cycloheximide confirmed that the metal is required to secrete MnP already synthesized and retained within the cell.

Molecular cloning and heterologous expression of a laccase gene from Pleurotus eryngii in free and immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells

A full length cDNA encoding an extracellular laccase was isolated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction from the mycelia of the mushroom Pleurotus eryngii. The isolated sequence, denoted Ery3, encodes for a mature laccase isoenzyme of 531 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of 56.6 kDa. All sequence motifs, being the signature sequences used to identify the laccases, were found in the Ery3 protein sequence. The Ery3 cDNA was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the effects of copper concentration and cultivation temperature were investigated. S. cerevisiae cells were immobilized in calcium alginate gel and the optimal immobilization parameters for the enhanced production of laccase were determined. The immobilization was most effective with 3% sodium alginate, 0.1 M calcium chloride and an initial biomass of 4.5 x 10(8) cells. The enzyme yield obtained with immobilized cells (139 mU ml(-1)) showed a 1.6-fold increase compared to the highest yield obtained with free cells. The alginate beads showed good stability and retained 84% capacity of enzyme production after seven repeated cycles of batch fermentation. The immobilization system proved to increase the proteolytic stability of the recombinant Ery3 protein. To our knowledge, this is the first report on S. cerevisiae whole-cell immobilization for recombinant laccase production.

Heterologous expression of heterodimeric laccase from Pleurotus ostreatus in Kluyveromyces lactis

Among the laccases produced by the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus, there are two closely related atypical isoenzymes, POXA3a and POXA3b. These isoenzymes are endowed with quaternary structure, consisting of two subunits very different in size. The POXA3 large subunit is clearly homologous to other known laccases, while the small subunit does not show significant homology with any protein in data banks. To investigate on the singular structure of the POXA3 complex, a new system for recombinant expression of heterodimer proteins in the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis has been set up. A unique expression vector has been used and the cDNAs encoding the two subunits have been cloned under the control of the same bi-directionally acting promoter. Expression of the large subunit alone and co-expression of both subunits in the same host have been demonstrated and the properties of the recombinant proteins have been compared. Clones expressing the large subunit alone exhibited always notably lower activity than those expressing both subunits. In addition to the activity increase, the presence of the small subunit led to a significant increase of laccase stability. Therefore, a role of the small subunit in POXA3 stabilisation is suggested.

Laccase production at reactor scale by filamentous fungi

Laccases have received much attention from researchers during the past decades due to their broad substrate specificity and to the fact that they use molecular oxygen as the final electron acceptor instead of hydrogen peroxide as used by peroxidases. This makes laccases highly interesting for a wide variety of processes, such as textile dye decolouration, pulp bleaching, effluent detoxification, biosensors and bioremediation. The successful application of laccases to the above-mentioned processes requires the production of large quantities of enzyme at low cost. Filamentous fungi are able to produce laccases in high amounts, however, an efficient production system at bioreactor scale is still lacking. This is mainly due to the fact that laccase production by wild-type strains of filamentous fungi is linked to secondary metabolism, which implies that the following drawbacks must be overcome: uncontrolled fungal growth, the formation of polysaccharides around mycelia and the secretion of certain compounds (i.e. proteases) that inactivate laccases. This review summarizes the current status of laccase production by wild-type strains of filamentous fungi at the bioreactor scale.

Purification and biochemical characterization of a laccase from the aquatic fungus Myrioconium sp. UHH 1-13-18-4 and molecular analysis of the laccase-encoding gene

Myrioconium sp. strain UHH 1-13-18-4 is an ascomycete anamorph isolated from the river Saale, Central Germany. An extracellular, monomeric, and glycosylated laccase with a molecular mass of 72.7 kDa as determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry and an isoelectric point below 2.8 was purified from CuSO(4) and vanillic acid amended liquid fungal cultures grown in malt extract medium. The catalytic efficiencies (k(cat)/K(m)) for the oxidation of syringaldazine, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) were 67.3, 46.9, and 28.2 s(-1) mM(-1), respectively, with K(m) values of 4.2, 67.8, and 104.9 microM. After pre-incubation at different pH values and temperatures for 1 h, more than 80% of the initial laccase activity was retained between pH 4 to 6 and 15 degrees C. The laccase-encoding gene was identified and sequenced at both the genomic and complementary DNA (cDNA) level, and corresponding structural characteristics and putative regulatory elements of the promoter region are reported. The identification of two tryptic peptides of the purified enzyme by mass spectrometry confirmed the identity of the functional laccase protein with the translated genomic sequence of the Myrioconium sp. laccase. Myrioconium sp. laccase shows the highest degree of identity with laccases from ascomycetes belonging to the family Sclerotiniaceae, order Helotiales.

Novel thermotolerant laccases produced by the white-rot fungus Physisporinus rivulosus

The white-rot basidiomycete Physisporinus rivulosus strain T241i is highly selective for degradation of softwood lignin, which makes this fungus suitable for biopulping. In order to promote laccase production, P. rivulosus was cultivated in nutrient-nitrogen sufficient liquid media containing either charcoal or spruce sawdust as supplements. Two laccases with distinct pI values, Lac-3.5 and Lac-4.8, were purified from peptone-spruce sawdust-charcoal cultures of P. rivulosus. Both laccases showed thermal stability at up to 60 degrees C. Lac-4.8 was thermally activated at 50 degrees C. Surprisingly, both laccases displayed atypically low pH optima (pH 3.0-3.5) in oxidation of the commonly used laccase substrates syringaldazine (4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde azine), 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol). Steady-state kinetic measurements pointed to unusually low affinity to guaiacol at low pH, whereas the kinetic constants for the methoxyphenols and ABTS were within the ranges reported for other fungal laccases. The combination of thermotolerance with low pH optima for methoxylated phenol substrates suggests that the two P. rivulosus T241i laccases possess potential for use in biotechnological applications.

Manganese affects the production of laccase in the basidiomycete Ceriporiopsis subvermispora

The authors have previously identified and characterized lcs, a gene encoding laccase in the white-rot basidiomycete Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. In this work, the effect of Mn2+ in the production of extracellular laccase in liquid cultures of this fungus has been assessed. It was observed that at low (0-10 microM) concentrations of Mn2+, high titers of lcs-mRNA were obtained, whereas at high (160-194 microM) concentrations of this metal ion, transcripts levels decreased markedly. This phenomenon was observed at different days of growth. On the other hand, Cu2+ or Ag+, but not Zn2+ or Cd2+, led to an accumulation of lcs transcripts only in cultures grown in the absence of Mn2+. A dramatic increase in lcs transcript levels was also obtained with syringic acid, a lignin-related aromatic compound. This effect was more pronounced in cultures lacking Mn2+. In the course of these studies it was observed that Mn2+ stimulates mycelium growth. Thus, although extracellular laccase activity appeared higher in cultures containing 160 or 194 microM Mn2+, i.e. when lcs transcripts were lower, a correlation between lcs-mRNA levels and enzymatic activity was observed when values of the latter were corrected by the amount of mycelium present in the cultures.

Characterization of two new multiforms of Trametes pubescens laccase

Electrochemical properties of two multiforms of laccase from Trametes pubescens basidiomycete (LAC1 and LAC2) have been studied. The standard redox potentials of the T1 sites of the enzymes were found to be 746 and 738 mV vs. NHE for LAC1 and LAC2, respectively. Bioelectroreduction of oxygen based on direct electron transfer between each of the two forms of Trametes pubescens laccase and spectrographic graphite electrodes has been demonstrated and studied. It is concluded that the T1 site of laccase is the first electron acceptor, both in solution (homogeneous case) and when the enzymes are adsorbed on the surface of the graphite electrode (heterogeneous case). Thus, the previously proposed mechanism of oxygen bioelectroreduction by adsorbed fungal laccase was additionally confirmed using two forms of the enzyme. Moreover, the assumed need for extracellular laccase to communicate directly and electronically with a solid matrix (lignin) in the course of lignin degradation is discussed. In summary, the possible roles of multiforms of the enzyme based on their electrochemical, biochemical, spectral, and kinetic properties have been suggested to consist in broadening of the substrate specificity of the enzyme, in turn yielding the possibility to dynamically regulate the process of lignin degradation according to the real-time survival needs of the organism.

Production and characterization of a secreted, C-terminally processed tyrosinase from the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei

A homology search of the genome database of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei identified a new T. reesei tyrosinase gene tyr2, encoding a protein with a putative signal sequence. The gene was overexpressed in the native host under the strong cbh1 promoter, and the tyrosinase enzyme was secreted into the culture supernatant. This is the first report on a secreted fungal tyrosinase. Expression of TYR2 in T. reesei resulted in good yields, corresponding to approximately 0.3 and 1 g.L(-1) tyrosinase in shake flask cultures and laboratory-scale batch fermentation, respectively. T. reesei TYR2 was purified with a three-step purification procedure, consisting of desalting by gel filtration, cation exchange chromatography and size exclusion chromatography. The purified TYR2 protein had a significantly lower molecular mass (43.2 kDa) than that calculated from the putative amino acid sequence (61.151 kDa). According to N-terminal and C-terminal structural analyses by fragmentation, chromatography, MS and peptide sequencing, the mature protein is processed from the C-terminus by a cleavage of a peptide fragment of about 20 kDa. The T. reesei TYR2 polypeptide chain was found to be glycosylated at its only potential N-glycosylation site, with a glycan consisting of two N-acetylglucosamines and five mannoses. Also, low amounts of shorter glycan forms were detected at this site. T. reesei TYR2 showed the highest activity and stability within a neutral and alkaline pH range, having an optimum at pH 9. T. reesei tyrosinase retained its activity well at 30 degrees C, whereas at higher temperatures the enzyme started to lose its activity relatively quickly. T. reesei TYR2 was active on both l-tyrosine and l-dopa, and it showed broad substrate specificity.

Heterologous expression of lcc1 gene from Trametes trogii in Pichia pastoris and characterization of the recombinant enzyme

Background

Fungal laccases are useful enzymes for industrial applications; they exhibit broad substrate specificity and thus are able to oxidize a variety of xenobiotic compounds including chlorinated phenolics, synthetic dyes, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Unfortunately, the biotechnological exploitation of laccases can be hampered by the difficulties concerning the enzyme production by the native hosts.

Results

In order to obtain a simple and efficient source of laccase, the lcc1 cDNA isolated from the white-rot fungus Trametes trogii has been successfully expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris under the control of the methanol induced alcohol oxidase promoter P_AOX1. The recombinant Lcc1 was produced as a secreted protein with the native N-terminal prepropeptide for signal trafficking, and thus easily recovered from the culture medium. At the 1-liter scale, as calculated on the basis of the specific activity, the recombinant protein was produced at a yield of 17 mg/l. The highest production level obtained in fed-batch culture was 2520 U/l, corresponding to a specific productivity of 31.5 U/g biomass.

The purified recombinant laccase exhibited a behaviour similar to the main laccase produced by T. trogii. Lcc1 showed high activity in the presence of organic solvents and a high decolourization capacity towards azo, triarylmethane, indigo carmine and anthraquinonic dyes, that could be significantly enhanced in the presence of the redox mediators 1-hydroxybenzotriazole and violuric acid.

Conclusion

Heterologous expression of T. trogii laccase lcc1 in the methylotrophic yeast P. pastoris was successfully achieved. The biochemical and kinetic characterization of the recombinant protein suggests potential technological applications for this enzyme.

Expression of laccase gene lcc1 in Coprinopsis cinerea under control of various basidiomycetous promoters

Coprinopsis cinerea laccase gene lcc1 was expressed in this basidiomycete under naturally non-inductive conditions using various homologous and heterologous promoters. Laccase expression was achieved in solid and liquid media with promoter sequences from the C. cinerea tub1 gene, the Agaricus bisporus gpdII gene, the Lentinus edodes priA gene and the Schizophyllum commune Sc3 gene. As measured by enzyme activity in liquid cultures, a 277-bp gpdII promoter fragment, followed by a 423-bp priA fragment, was most efficient. A shorter priA sequence of 372 bp was inactive. tub1 promoter fragments were reasonably active, whereas the S. commune Sc3 promoter sequence was less active, in comparison. Irrespective of the promoter used, addition of copper to the medium increased enzymatic activities for highly active transformants by 10- to 50-fold and for less active transformants for 2- to 7-fold. The highest enzymatic activities (3 U/ml) were reached with the gpdII promoter in the presence of 0.1 mM CuSO(4).

Recombinant expression of Pleurotus ostreatus laccases in Kluyveromyces lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Heterologous expression of Pleurotus ostreatus POXC and POXA1b laccases in two yeasts, Kluyveromyces lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was performed. Both transformed hosts secreted recombinant active laccases, although K. lactis was much more effective than S. cerevisiae. rPOXA1b transformants always had higher secreted activity than rPOXC transformants did. The lower tendency of K. lactis with respect to S. cerevisiae to hyperglycosylate recombinant proteins was confirmed. Recombinant laccases from K. lactis were purified and characterised. Specific activities of native and recombinant POXA1b are similar. On the other hand, rPOXC specific activity is much lower than that of the native protein, perhaps due to incomplete or incorrect folding. Both recombinant laccase signal peptides were correctly cleaved, with rPOXA1b protein having two C-terminal amino acids removed. The availability of the established recombinant expression system provides better understanding of laccase structure-function relationships and allows the development of new oxidative catalysts through molecular evolution techniques.

Expression of Melanocarpus albomyces laccase in Trichoderma reesei and characterization of the purified enzyme

Previous studies onMelanocarpus albomyceslaccase have shown that this enzyme is very interesting for both basic research purposes and industrial applications. In order to obtain a reliable and efficient source for this laccase, it was produced in the filamentous fungusTrichoderma reesei. Two approaches were used: production of a non-fused laccase and a hydrophobin–laccase fusion protein. Both proteins were expressed inT. reeseiunder thecbh1promoter, and significantly higher activities were obtained with the non-fused laccase in shake-flask cultures (corresponding to about 230 mg l−1). Northern blot analyses showed rather similar mRNA levels from both expression constructs. Western analysis indicated intracellular accumulation and degradation of the hydrophobin–laccase fusion protein, showing that production of the fusion was limited at the post-transcriptional level. No induction of the unfolded protein response pathway by laccase production was detected in the transformants by Northern hybridization. The most promising transformant was grown in a fermenter in batch and fed-batch modes. The highest production level obtained in the fed-batch culture was 920 mg l−1. The recombinant laccase was purified from the culture supernatant after cleaving the major contaminating protein, cellobiohydrolase I, by papain. The recombinant and wild-type laccases were compared with regard to substrate kinetics, molecular mass, pH optimum, thermostability, and processing of the N- and C-termini, and they showed very similar properties.

A novel extracellular multicopper oxidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium with ferroxidase activity

Lignin degradation by the white rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium involves various extracellular oxidative enzymes, including lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and a peroxide-generating enzyme, glyoxal oxidase. Recent studies have suggested that laccases also may be produced by this fungus, but these conclusions have been controversial. We identified four sequences related to laccases and ferroxidases (Fet3) in a search of the publicly available P. chrysosporium database. One gene, designated mco1, has a typical eukaryotic secretion signal and is transcribed in defined media and in colonized wood. Structural analysis and multiple alignments identified residues common to laccase and Fet3 sequences. A recombinant MCO1 (rMCO1) protein expressed in Aspergillus nidulans had a molecular mass of 78 kDa, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the copper I-type center was confirmed by the UV-visible spectrum. rMCO1 oxidized various compounds, including 2,2'-azino(bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) and aromatic amines, although phenolic compounds were poor substrates. The best substrate was Fe2+, with a Km close to 2 micro M. Collectively, these results suggest that the P. chrysosporium genome does not encode a typical laccase but rather encodes a unique extracellular multicopper oxidase with strong ferroxidase activity.