Optimization of Immobilization, Characterization, and Environmental Applications of Laccases from Pycnoporus sanguineus UEM-20

The immobilization of a laccase from Pycnoporus sanguineus UEM-20 via the formation of cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) was optimized through a central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). Both free and immobilized enzymes were investigated for their physico-chemical characteristics, and their adequacy in removing bisphenol A (BPA) and decolorizing malachite green dye in solution was evaluated. The immobilization caused only minor differences in thermostability. Upon immobilization, the enzyme experienced some changes in its kinetic properties. The Vmax decreased by a factor of 1.1, and the KM increased by a factor of 1.89. These kinetic changes did not modify in any remarkable way the capacity of the immobilized enzyme in degrading BPA and decolorizing malachite green dye. Its sensitivity to NaCl was also minimally affected by immobilization. However, its sensitivity to sodium sulfate was substantially decreased. After 1 month’s conservation, the activity of the free form had suffered a drastic drop. The immobilized form, by contrast, remained 100% active after 6 months. All these findings predict that the immobilized laccase from P. sanguineus UEM-20 may be useful in the enzymatic bioremediation of pollutants such as endocrine disruptors and synthetic dyes.