Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Laccase for Lignin Degradation, LacZ1
Weiran Zhang, Weiwei Wang, Weiwei Wang, Jinghong Wang, Guinan Shen, Yuan Yuan, Lei Yan, Hongzhi Tang, Weidong Wang, Weidong Wang
Abstract
Lignin is a natural aromatic polymer that is not easily degraded, hindering the efficient use of lignocellulose-rich biomass resources, such as straw. Biodegradation is a method of decomposing lignin that has recently received increasing attention. In this study, we screened a gene encoding laccase from the lignocellulose-degrading microbial consortium WSC-6, purified the corresponding protein LacZ1, characterized the enzymatic properties of laccase LacZ1, and speculated that the degradation pathway of LacZ1 degrades lignin. This study identified a new, high-temperature bacterial laccase that can degrade lignin, providing insight into lignin degradation by this laccase.