Efficient immobilization of mushroom tyrosinase utilizing whole cells from Agaricus bisporus and its application for degradation of bisphenol A

A simple and efficient procedure for preparation and immobilization of tyrosinase enzyme was developed utilizing whole cells from the edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus, without the need for enzyme purification. Tyrosinase activity in the cell preparation remained constant during storage at 21 °C for at least six months. The cells were entrapped in chitosan and alginate matrix capsules and characterized with respect to their resulting tyrosinase activity. A modification of the alginate with colloidal silica enhanced the activity due to retention of both cells and tyrosinase from fractured cells, which otherwise leached from matrix capsules. The observed activity was similar to the activity that was obtained with immobilized isolated tyrosinase in the same material. Mushroom cells in water were susceptible to rapid inactivation, whereas the immobilized cells maintained 73% of their initial activity after 30 days of storage in water. Application in repeated batch experiments resulted in almost 100% conversion of endocrine disrupting bisphenol A (BPA) for 11 days, under stirring conditions, and 50-60% conversion after 20 days, without stirring under continuous usage. The results represent the longest yet reported application of immobilized tyrosinase for degradation of BPA in environmental water samples.

Isolation, culture optimization and physico-chemical characterization of laccase enzyme from Pleurotus fossulatus

Pleurotus fossulatus (Cooke) Sace is member of oyster mushroom can produced extracellular laccase (benzenediol: oxygen oxidoreductase; EC 1.10.3.2) in submerged fermentation. To analyze the optimum production for laccase P. fossulatus was cultured both in stationary and shaking condition in different media. Partial purification of laccase was done after 0-80% ammonium sulphate precipitation, followed by DEAE (Diethylaminoethyl) Sephadex (A-50) anion exchange chromatography. Potato-sucrose peptone (PSP) medium and Potato-dextrose (PD) medium showed highest laccase production in shaking and stationary conditions, respectively. Though the time required for optimum laccase production in stationary condition was much more than the shaking condition but the amount of laccase was about 2.75t greater in former condition. The laccase produced in stationary condition was more stable than the enzyme produced in shaking condition. The partially purified enzyme showed highest affinity towards o-dianisidine than guaiacol and ABTS (2,2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as evidenced by their K(m). The physico-chemical properties of the laccase suggested the significance of this enzyme in industrial applications.

Novel, biocatalytically produced hydroxytyrosol dimer protects against ultraviolet-induced cell death in human immortalized keratinocytes

Compounds derived from botanicals, such as olive trees, have been shown to possess various qualities that make them function as ideal antioxidants and, in doing so, protect them against the damaging effect of ultraviolet (UV)-derived oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to biocatalytically synthesize a dimeric product (compound II) from a known botanical, 3-hydroxytyrosol, and test it for its antioxidant ability using a human immortalized keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). 2,2-Diphenyl-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) antioxidant assays showed 33 and 86.7% radical scavenging activity for 3-hydroxytyrosol and its dimer, respectively. The ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay corroborated this by showing a 3-fold higher antioxidant activity for the dimer than 3-hydroxytyrosol. Western blot analyses, showing cells exposed to 500 μM of the dimeric product when ultraviolet A (UVA)-irradiated, increased the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression by 16% and reduced the pro-apoptotic protein Bax by 87.5%. Collectively, the data show that the dimeric product of 3-hydroxytyrosol is a more effective antioxidant and could be considered for use in skin-care products, health, and nutraceuticals.

Substrate share in the suicide inactivation of mushroom tyrosinase

To address the real cause of the suicide inactivation of mushroom tyrosinase (MT), under in vitro conditions, cresolase and catecholase reactions of this enzyme were investigated in the presence of three different pairs of substrates, which had been selected for their structural specifications. It was showed that the cresolase activity is more vulnerable to the inactivation. Acetylation of the free tyrosyl residues of MT did not cure susceptibility of the cresolase activity, but clearly decreased the inactivation rate of MT in the presence of 4-[(4-methylbenzo)azo]-1,2-benzenediol (MeBACat) as a catecholase substrate. Considering the results of the previous works and this research, some different possible reasons for the suicide inactivation of MT have been discussed. Accordingly, it was proposed that the interruption in the conformational changes in the tertiary and quaternary structures of MT, triggered by the substrate then mediated by the solvent molecules, might be the real reason for the suicide inactivation of the enzyme. However, minor causes like the toxic effect of the ortho-quinones on the protein body of the enzyme or the oxidation of some free tyrosyl residues on the surface of the enzyme by itself, which could boost the inactivation rate, should not be ignored.

Optimization of catechol production by membrane-immobilized polyphenol oxidase: a modeling approach

Although previous research has focused on phenol removal efficiencies using polyphenol oxidase in nonimmobilized and immobilized forms, there has been little consideration of the use of polyphenol oxidase in a biotransformation system for the production of catechols. In this study, polyphenol oxidase was successfully immobilized on various synthetic membranes and used to convert phenolic substrates to catechol products. A neural network model was developed and used to model the rates of substrate utilization and catechol production for both nonimmobilized and immobilized polyphenol oxidase. The results indicate that the biotransformation of the phenols to their corresponding catechols was strongly influenced by the immobilization support, resulting in differing yields of catechols. Hydrophilic membranes were found to be the most suitable immobilization supports for catechol production. The successful biocatalytic production of 3-methylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol, catechol, and 4-chlorocatechol is demonstrated.

The search for the ideal biocatalyst

While the use of enzymes as biocatalysts to assist in the industrial manufacture of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals has enormous potential, application is frequently limited by evolution-led catalyst traits. The advent of designer biocatalysts, produced by informed selection and mutation through recombinant DNA technology, enables production of process-compatible enzymes. However, to fully realize the potential of designer enzymes in industrial applications, it will be necessary to tailor catalyst properties so that they are optimal not only for a given reaction but also in the context of the industrial process in which the enzyme is applied.

Enzymatic grafting of hexyloxyphenol onto chitosan to alter surface and rheological properties

An enzymatic method to graft hexyloxyphenol onto the biopolymer chitosan was studied. The method employs tyrosinase to convert the phenol into a reactive o-quinone, which undergoes subsequent nonenzymatic reaction with chitosan. Reactions were conducted under heterogeneous conditions using chitosan films and also under homogeneous conditions using aqueous methanolic mixtures capable of dissolving both hexyloxyphenol and chitosan. Tyrosinase was shown to catalyze the oxidation of hexyloxyphenol in such aqueous methanolic solutions. Chemical evidence for covalent grafting onto chitosan was provided by three independent spectroscopic approaches. Specifically, enzymatic modification resulted in (1) the appearance of broad absorbance in the 350-nm region of the UV/vis spectra for chitosan films; (2) changes in the NH bending and stretching regions of chitosan's IR spectra; and (3) a base-soluble material with (1)H-NMR signals characteristic of both chitosan and the alkyl groups of hexyloxyphenol. Hexyloxyphenol modification resulted in dramatic changes in chitosan's functional properties. On the basis of contact angle measurements, heterogeneous modification of a chitosan film yielded a hydrophobic surface. Homogeneously modified chitosan offered rheological properties characteristic of associating water-soluble polymers.

Purification and characterization of laccase-1 from Pleurotus florida

Pleurotus florida (ITCC 3308) produces two laccase enzymes (L1 and L2) in potato-dextrose media containing 0.5% yeast extract. Concentrated culture filtrate was separated on DEAE-Sephadex (A-50) column into two enzyme peaks, subsequently named L1 and L2. The L1 enzyme has been purified to homogeneity by ion-exchange and gel-permeation chromatography. L1 is a monomeric glycoprotein with a molar mass of 77 and 82 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE and gel-filtration chromatography, respectively. The pI value of L1 has been determined to be 4.1. The optimum reaction temperature of the enzyme is 50 degrees C. The Km and some other kinetic parameters of L1 have been determined. Cyanide and azide completely inhibit the enzyme activity. The enzyme was fully active in 1:1 (V/V) buffer-chloroform for at least 2 h. Spectroscopic analysis revealed that the enzyme has four copper atoms, a type 1 copper, a type 2 copper and a type 3 binuclear copper.

Melanocyte-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (MDEPT): development of a targeted treatment for malignant melanoma

A novel prodrug rationally designed to function as a tyrosinase substrate has been synthesised to allow targeted treatment of malignant melanoma. This agent has been evaluated for tyrosinase-mediated drug release, and has been shown to act in the desired manner. Furthermore, differential cytotoxicity has been demonstrated in cell lines which express tyrosinase and those which do not.