Laccase: exploring structural insights and functional versatility for applications

Abstract

The rise in industrial establishments all around the globe has also enhanced the demand of enzymes for usage in processes. Laccases are one of the dominant enzymes which have been employed in industrial processes over the years. They are a type of multi-copper oxidases (MCOs) which is a category of enzymes having diverse substrate selectivity and varying biological activity. All multi-copper oxidases can convert oxygen into water without creating unwanted products owing to the existence of cupredoxin-like domains. This review article details up-to-date knowledge about laccases, their structures and various sources, the laccase mediator system, mechanism of action and applications of laccases in numerous biotechnological processes such as in food industry for wine and beer stabilization, synthesis of cosmetics and pharmaceutically important compounds, dye detoxification in industrial effluents, xenobiotic degradation, paper and pulp bleaching, biofuel cells and biosensor development for detection for various chemical compounds.