Fungal laccases

Claudia M. Rivera-Hoyos, Edwin David Morales-Álvarez, Raúl A. Poutou-Piñales, Aura Marina Pedroza-Rodríguez, Refugio RodrÍguez-Vázquez, Julio M. Delgado-Boada

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

229 Scopus citations

Abstract

Laccases are enzymes widely distributed in plants, fungi, bacteria, and insects. They are multicopper oxidases that catalyze the transformation of aromatic and non-aromatic compounds with reduction of molecular oxygen to water. These enzymes participate in processes such as biosynthesis and lignin degradation, morphogenesis, and pigment biosynthesis, among others. In this review we discuss relevant aspects of fungal laccases regarding the existence of fungal laccases gene families, the growing interest in investigating mechanisms of their molecular regulation, and factors that influence the production of laccases, due to their potential biotechnological applications. In addition we comparatively analyzed some structural similarities and differences depicting general features of laccases' active site, demonstrating their frequency as monomeric proteins with highly conserved cupredoxine type domains. Although inter- and intra-specific differences have been determined, structural differences encountered between fungal laccases remain unclear based on Crystallography and X-ray diffraction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)67-82
Number of pages16
JournalFungal Biology Reviews
Volume27
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2013

Keywords

  • Biotechnological applications
  • Cupredoxine type domains
  • Laccases
  • Lignin degradation

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