Open AccessEvidence for functional laccases in the acidophilic ascomycete Hortaea acidophila and isolation of laccase‐specific gene fragments
Author(s) -
Tetsch Larissa,
Bend Jutta,
Janßen Martina,
Hölker Udo
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsle.2005.03.007
Subject(s) - laccase , gene , biology , isolation (microbiology) , biochemistry , southern blot , yeast , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry
Hortaea acidophila is a pigmented, yeast‐like ascomycete that is able to grow at a pH as low as 0.6. This study presents evidence that H. acidophila possesses at least two functional laccases that seem to be involved in melanin synthesis. This evidence is supported by PCR amplification of laccase‐specific gene fragments by using primers derived from conserved copper‐binding‐regions and by Southern Blot analysis. Due to their low pH optimum the laccases may be of special interest for biotechnological use.