A Novel Laccase for Alkaline Medium Temperature Environments in the
Textile Industry
Abstract
Laccases have a wide range of uses in the textile industry for their
ability to decolorize dyes, modify the surface of fabrics and bleach
textiles. Screening a laccase with high thermal stability and alkali
tolerance suitable for textile applications is challenging. In this
study, we identified a novel alkaline laccase, LacCT, from
Caldalkalibacillus thermarum, and expressed it in Escherichia coli. It
showed an optimal temperature of 65°C and a pH range of high stability
from 6.0 to 10.0, with an optimum pH of 7.5. Through rational design,
the thermal stability of the best variant, G190P/Q254Y/G336M/D510F
(LacCT-11), was significantly improved, exhibiting a half-life of 63.2
minutes at 60°C, 1.8 times longer than the wild type. This research
presents a new laccase with significant potential for decolorizing
textile wastewater and enhancing the ramie degumming process.