A REVIEW ON THE POTENTIAL INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF MICROBIAL LACCASES

Ali Javed, Sikander Ali*, Waseem Abid and Nasir Ali

ABSTRACT

Laccases are multicopper holding enzymes which can catalyze variety of reactions involving one electron oxidation. Laccases are listed ecofriendly because they involve molecular oxygen as final electron acceptor and thus produce water as by product. Laccases have capability to oxidize both phenolic and nonphenolic lignin related compounds as well as noxious environmental pollutants and thus derive interests and attraction from researchers to be used in industrial biotechnology. This enzyme is being utilized in a variety of industries from food processing to textile and paper industry. Ability of laccases to eliminate phenolic compounds is being utilized in ethanol production and genetically enhanced systems are being used for laccase production. Laccase also finds its application in nanobiotechnology and biomedicine. Their ability to transform xenobiotic compounds makes them efficient bioremediation agents. This review covers the scope and applications of laccases within different industrial fields.

Keywords: Laccase, oxidoreductase, microbes, enzyme system, bioremediation