We have recently addressed the question of the diversity and ecology of bacterial laccases by combining molecular studies, bioinformatic approaches and biochemistry of purified bacterial enzymes. Molecular studies suggested that diversity and composition of bacterial laccases was highly dependent on the environment and that two- and three-domain laccases were very diverse in soils. On the other hand, within species diversity of CotA laccase was rather limited in Bacillus subtilis strains isolated from the soil microscale. We have recently identified 1,200 putative laccases in 2200 draft and completed genomes using custom profile Hidden Markov Models, uncovering their mobility within bacteria and the broad range of laccases' putative physiological functions. Moreover, the characterization of the heterologously expressed laccases form various bacterial species indicated great variability in their pH and temperature optima suggesting that bacteria represent an underexplored pool of these interesting biocatalysts.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 4129656In these study lignins from different lignocellulosic fibres (jute, sisal and coconut) were isolated with combined chemical/bio-chemical procedure in order to achieve the highest purity and structure integrity as possible. Enzymatic activation and modification of isolated lignins were further performed using two different types of laccases, i.e. bacterial and fungal origin. In order to determine the differences in lignin structure before and after an enzymatic treatment different spectroscopic methods as ATR-FTIR, UV-VIS and XPS spectroscopy were used. Additionally, average particle size and surface charge of lignins were evaluated using zetasizer.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 16657686