Screening of Potent Laccase Producing Organisms Based on the Oxidation Pattern of Different Phenolic Substrates

Abstract

Soil samples were collected from different forest areas of Kerala and screened for laccase activity using guaiacol plate assay technique. An increased concentration of guaiacol was used for the isolation of resistant strains. Substrate oxidation studies were carried out and the potent organisms were taken for enzyme production studies. The organisms, isolated by the screening strategies, were found efficient laccase producers. The potent organisms were identified as Arthrographis sp. and Enterobacter cloacae. The enzyme production rate of Arthrographis was found to increase logarithmically and a maximum quantity of 53 U/ml was obtained and the bacterial strain, Enterobacter cloacae, gave a maximum laccase activity of 8U/ml. The difference in the pattern of substrate oxidation by laccase from different organisms is paid attention in the study.