Light-induced expression of a novel marine laccase in Escherichia coli from Marinomonas profundimaris and its application in synthetic dye decolorization

Laccases (EC 1.10.3.2) are green biocatalysts with a considerable potential in numerous environmental and industrial applications due to their abilities to oxidize a wide range of substrates, such as aromatic amines, while reducing molecular oxygen to water. In this study, a putative laccase, LacMp1, encoding a protein of 48.3 kDa and belonging to the Cu-oxidase_3 superfamily, was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli with a light-induced expression system. High-level expression of recombinant protein LacMp1 was achieved under the light intensity of 6500 ± 200 lx from a white light-emitting diode (LED) belt. The purified LacMp1 showed high activity toward various laccase substrates, with the lowest Km value and highest kcat/Km value for syringaldazine at the optimal temperature and pH of 50 °C and 7.5. Dimethyl sulfoxide, ethanol, and metal ions such as Co2+, Ca2+, K+, Li+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Fe3+, and Ni2+ did not significantly inhibit the activity of LacMp1. Furthermore, LacMp1 showed tolerance to NaCl and kept 66.67 ± 2.24% of its initial activity at concentrations lower than 400 mM. Moreover, LacMp1 exhibited wide-spectrum decolorization ability towards indigoid, anthraquinonic, and azo dyes without the aid of redox mediators at pHs ranging from 5.0 to 9.0. It decolorized 99.83 ± 0.12% of indigo carmine, 99.54 ± 0.43% of Congo red, 88.41 ± 3.22% of Eriochrome black T, and 51.61 ± 1.82% of Reactive blue 4, respectively. These unusual properties demonstrated that LacMp1 had potential in specific industrial or environmental applications. •A novel marine laccase LacMp1 from Marinomonas profundimaris was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli with a light-induced expression system.•The purified LacMp1 showed high activity toward various laccase substrates, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethanol, metal ions such as Co2+, Ca2+, K+, Li+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Fe3+ and Ni2+ did not significantly inhibit its activity.•LacMp1 exhibited wide-spectrum decolorization ability towards indigoid, anthraquinonic and azo dyes without the aid of redox mediators over a wide range of pH (5.0–9.0).