Abstract
Extracellular laccase secreted from Pleurotus ostreatus was activated by $Cu^{2+}$ and $Cu^{+}$ . The enzyme was strongly inactivated by 8-hydroxyquinoline, potassium cyanide, sodium azide, sodium bisulfite and 2-mercaptoethanol. The two ionogenic groups, which have pKa values of 5.60-5.70 and 6.70-6.85 respectively, were found to relate with the active site of this enzyme. The oxidation reactions were brought about by initial single electron transfer process on the active site. The enzyme was found to be a metalloprotein which had about 3.9 cupric ions per molecule of protein as a prosthetic group. The enzyme showed a strong peak at 605 nm and a weak shoulder at 330 nm in UV-Visible absorption spectrum. Both signals disappeated upon treatment of the enzyme with 4 electron equivalent ascorbate. These results indicate that type I Cu peak and type III Cu shoulder are present in laccase.
