Laccase production in saline conditions is still poorly studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the production of laccase in two different types of bioreactors by the marine-derived basidiomycete Peniophora sp. CBMAI 1063. The highest laccase activity and productivity were obtained in the Stirred Tank (ST) bioreactor, while the highest biomass concentration in Air-lift (AL) bioreactor. The main laccase produced was purified by ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography and appeared to be monomeric with molecular weight of approximately 55 kDa. The optimum oxidation activity was obtained at pH 5.0. The thermal stability of the enzyme ranged from 30 to 50 °C (120 min). The Far-UV Circular Dichroism revealed the presence of high β-sheet and low α-helical conformation in the protein structure. Additional experiments carried out in flask scale showed that the marine-derived fungus was able to produce laccase only in the presence of artificial seawater and copper sulfate. Results from the present study confirmed the fungal adaptation to marine conditions and its potential for being used in saline environments and/or processes.
Keywords: Aerobic fermentation; Filamentous fungi; Green chemistry; Laccases; Multi-cooper oxidases; Salinity.
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