What is it about?

In this manuscript, we critically analyze reports on laccase activity in the literature, finding a full range of inconsistencies on the calculation of this enzyme activity.

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Why is it important?

Laccase is involved in lignin depolymerization by ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, and several authors describe highly active laccase enzymes in different fungi. However, the reported activity varies widely from tens to hundreds of thousands of units. We proved that this variability is not due to the biological properties of a given fungi, media characteristics or experimental conditions, but arises from inconsistencies in calculating enzyme activity. Such inconsistencies derive from inaccurate equations and misused units.

Perspectives

We believe that this article will help standardize the determination of laccase activity. According to our findings it is currently very difficult to compare enzymatic lignin degradation reports and it is an issue that needs be addressed.

Dr Eduardo Baltierra Trejo
Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Inconsistencies and ambiguities in calculating enzyme activity: The case of laccase, Journal of Microbiological Methods, December 2015, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2015.10.007.
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