A novel laccase for alkaline medium temperature environments in the textile industry

Laccases are extensively used in the textile industry due to their ability to decolorize dyes, modify fabric surfaces, and bleach textiles. Identifying a laccase with both high thermal stability and alkali tolerance suitable for textile applications presents a significant challenge. A novel alkaline laccase, LacCT, was discovered from Caldalkalibacillus thermarum and successfully expressed it in Escherichia coli. LacCT displayed optimal activity at 65°C and maintained high stability across a pH range of 6.0-10.0, with an optimal pH of 7.5. Through rational design, the thermal stability of the best variant, G190P/Q254Y/G336M/D510F (LacCT-11), was significantly enhanced, resulting in a half-life of 63.2 min at 60°C - 1.8 times longer than that of the wild type. This research introduces a promising new laccase with considerable potential for decolorizing textile wastewater and improving the ramie degumming process.