APPLICATIONS OF LACCASE ENZYME IN BIOREMEDIATION

Many industries are currently pursuing enzymatic approaches for developing green chemistry technologies mainly due to shortcomings of physicochemical methods, growing environmental concerns, legal restrictions, and increasing scientific knowledge. Laccase (EC 1.10.3.2 benzenediol: oxygen oxidoreductase) is a multi-copper enzyme that uses molecular oxygen to oxidize various aromatic and non-aromatic compounds by a radical-catalyzed reaction mechanism. Until recently, laccase was only found in eukaryotes (fungi, higher plants, insects), but now there is strong evidence for its widespread distribution in prokaryotes and the first crystal structure of a bacterial laccase is already available. Owing to their high non-specific oxidation capacity, laccase is useful biocatalysts for diverse biotechnological applications. A wide variety of bioremediation processes employ laccase for environmental pollution control, such applications include the detoxification of industrial effluents, mostly from pulp and paper, textile and food industries and as a bioremediation agent to clean up harmful compounds from the environment. Research in recent years has been intense, the most promising results are reviewed in this paper.