Yellow laccase produced by Trametes versicolor K1 on tomato waste: A comparative study with the blue one produced on semi-synthetic medium

Laccase production by fungal growth on agrifood waste is still poorly studied. Trametes versicolor K1 isolated from palm bark produced a yellow non glycosylated laccase from tomato waste based medium (TMT) and a blue glycosylated laccase on glucose medium (GLU). Lignocellulosic biomass, such as pinecones (PIN), palm leaves (PLM), olive pomace (OLV), and alfa stems (ALF) have also been used as growth medium for T. versicolor K1. In these conditions, very low or no laccase production was observed. When peptone was supplied in TMT medium, the laccase activity increased from 4170 U/L to 8618 U/L. By increasing the culture volume up to 1 L, laccase production on TMT was 9929 U/L. The yellow laccase (TmtLac) was purified from the supernatant TMT medium and has shown similar characteristics with the blue laccase (GluLac) purified from the GLU medium. Their apparent protein size was 63 kDa. Catalytic activities of the yellow form were not very different from those of the blue form, but specific activity of the purified yellow laccase produced on tomato waste was much higher. The Km and Vm values for four substrates, ABTS, DMP, guaiacol, and pyrogallol were almost similar for both isoenzymes. The optimum pH and temperature were respectively 4.0 and 50 °C. Although the level of glycosylation is clearly different, the thermostability of TmtLac and GluLac are quite similar. TmtLac is even slightly more tolerant at 60 °C for 24 h than GluLac. Moreover TmtLac showed greater stability at alkaline pH after 24 h compared to that of GluLac.We demonstrate that activity of the yellow TmtLac is not significantly affected compared to the blue laccase and that tomato waste is a simple and interesting lignocellulosic substrate to the laccase producer Trametes sp. •Trametes versicolor K1 from Algeria's semi-arid zone produces blue and yellow laccase.•Laccase was blue in a glucose-based medium, while yellow in a tomato waste medium.•The produced laccase displays a high pH stability in acidic and alkaline environments.•Yellow laccase was poorly glycosylated, whereas blue laccase was highly glycosylated.•Laccase produced on tomato waste successfully maintain its catalytic efficiency.