1. Bifunctional in vivo role of laccase exploited in multiple biotechnological applications
- Author
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Abha Sharma, Mazahir Kidwai, Kavish Kumar Jain, Ramesh Chander Kuhad, and Arti Jain
- Subjects
Paper ,0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,Drug Industry ,01 natural sciences ,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology ,Polymerization ,Fungal Proteins ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Bioremediation ,Biosynthesis ,010608 biotechnology ,Industry ,Lignin ,Coloring Agents ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Laccase ,biology ,fungi ,food and beverages ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,Biodegradation, Environmental ,030104 developmental biology ,Enzyme ,chemistry ,Biochemistry ,Biocatalysis ,Organic synthesis ,Bacteria ,Biotechnology - Abstract
Laccases are multicopper enzymes present in plants, fungi, bacteria, and insects, which catalyze oxidation reactions together with four electron reduction of oxygen to water. Plant, bacterial, and insect laccases have a polymerizing role in nature, implicated in biosynthesis of lignin, melanin formation, and cuticle hardening, respectively. On the other hand, fungal laccases carry out both polymerizing (melanin synthesis and fruit body formation) as well as depolymerizing roles (lignin degradation). This bifunctionality of fungal laccases can be attributed to the presence of multiple isoforms within the same as well as different genus and species. Interestingly, by manipulating culture conditions, these isoforms with their different induction patterns and unique biochemical characteristics can be expressed or over-expressed for a targeted biotechnological application. Consequently, laccases can be considered as one of the most important biocatalyst which can be exploited for divergent industrial applications viz. paper pulp bleaching, fiber modification, dye decolorization, bioremediation as well as organic synthesis. The present review spotlights the role of fungal laccases in various antagonistic applications, i.e., polymerizing and depolymerizing, and co-relating this dual role with potential industrial significance.
- Published
- 2018