Laccases are mainly produced by wood-rotting fungi. They belong to the class of phenoloxidases, catalysing the polymerisation of several phenolic substances to polymeric products. In addition, they have transformed lignin and lignin-related compounds, showing a very broad substrate specificity. Laccases are used in a variety of applications, such as to remove toxic compounds from aquatic and terrestrial systems, to produce and treat beverages, as analytical tools, and as biosensors to estimate the quantity of phenols in natural juices or the presence of other enzymes. Laccases have been used successfully in immobilised form as well as dissolved in organic solvents. In our study, we are purifying laccase from a new fungal species, and also evaluating the potential of the enzyme for different applications. 

Supervisor: Rajni Hatti-Kaul