Xenobiotic Compounds Degradation by Heterologous Expression of a Trametes sanguineus Laccase in Trichoderma atroviride

PLoS One. 2016 Feb 5;11(2):e0147997. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147997. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Fungal laccases are enzymes that have been studied because of their ability to decolorize and detoxify effluents; they are also used in paper bleaching, synthesis of polymers, bioremediation, etc. In this work we were able to express a laccase from Trametes (Pycnoporus) sanguineus in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma atroviride. For this purpose, a transformation vector was designed to integrate the gene of interest in an intergenic locus near the blu17 terminator region. Although monosporic selection was still necessary, stable integration at the desired locus was achieved. The native signal peptide from T. sanguineus laccase was successful to secrete the recombinant protein into the culture medium. The purified, heterologously expressed laccase maintained similar properties to those observed in the native enzyme (Km and kcat and kcat/km values for ABTS, thermostability, substrate range, pH optimum, etc). To determine the bioremediation potential of this modified strain, the laccase-overexpressing Trichoderma strain was used to remove xenobiotic compounds. Phenolic compounds present in industrial wastewater and bisphenol A (an endocrine disruptor) from the culture medium were more efficiently removed by this modified strain than with the wild type. In addition, the heterologously expressed laccase was able to decolorize different dyes as well as remove benzo[α]pyrene and phenanthrene in vitro, showing its potential for xenobiotic compound degradation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Enzyme Activation
  • Enzyme Stability
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / drug effects*
  • Kinetics
  • Laccase / genetics*
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Trametes / enzymology
  • Trametes / genetics*
  • Trichoderma / enzymology
  • Trichoderma / genetics*
  • Xenobiotics / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Xenobiotics
  • Laccase

Grants and funding

This work was partially funded by a grant of Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (http://www.conacyt.gob.mx/) CB-153789-Q from the Mexican government. EB-L and RAB-G had a scholarship from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología. LHM-L had a scholarship from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología- Secretaría de Energía project 150001. EB-L had a mobility grant from BBVA-Bancomer-2011. The work was also partially funded by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/index_eng.asp). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.