Heterologous expression of lccl gene from Trametes trogii in Pichia pastoris and characterization of the recombinant enzyme

Background: Fungal laccases are useful enzymes for industrial applications; they exhibit broad substrate specificity and thus are able to oxidize a variety of xenobiotic compounds including chlorinated phenolics, synthetic dyes, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Unfortunately, the biotechnological exploitation of laccases can be hampered by the difficulties concerning the enzyme production by the native hosts. Results: In order to obtain a simple and efficient source of laccase, the lccI cDNA isolated from the white-rot fungus Trametes trogii has been successfully expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris under the control of the methanol induced alcohol oxidase promoter P-AOXI. The recombinant LccI was produced as a secreted protein with the native N-terminal prepropeptide for signal trafficking, and thus easily recovered from the culture medium. At the I-liter scale, as calculated on the basis of the specific activity, the recombinant protein was produced at a yield of 17 mg/l. The highest production level obtained in fed-batch culture was 2520 U/I, corresponding to a specific productivity of 31.5 U/g biomass. The purified recombinant laccase exhibited a behaviour similar to the main laccase produced by T. trogii. LccI showed high activity in the presence of organic solvents and a high decolourization capacity towards azo, triarylmethane, indigo carmine and anthraquinonic dyes, that could be significantly enhanced in the presence of the redox mediators I-hydroxybenzotriazole and violuric acid. Conclusion: Heterologous expression of T. trogii laccase lccI in the methylotrophic yeast P. pastoris was successfully achieved. The biochemical and kinetic characterization of the recombinant protein suggests potential technological applications for this enzyme.