Laccase-Mediated Catalyzed Fluorescent Reporter Deposition for Live-Cell Imaging.

Catalyzed reporter deposition (CARD) is a widely established method for labeling biological samples analyzed using microscopy. Horseradish peroxidase, commonly used in CARD to amplify reporter signals, requires the addition of hydrogen peroxide, which may perturb samples used in live-cell microscopy. Herein we describe an alternative method of performing CARD using a laccase enzyme, which does not require exogenous hydrogen peroxide. Laccase is an oxidative enzyme which can carry out single-electron oxidations of phenols and related compounds by reducing molecular oxygen. We demonstrate proof-of-concept for this technique through the nontargeted covalent labeling of bovine serum albumin using a fluorescently labeled ferulic acid derivative as the laccase reporter substrate. We further demonstrate the viability of this approach by performing live-cell CARD with an antibody-conjugated laccase against a surface-bound target. CARD using laccase produces an amplified fluorescence signal by labeling cells without the need for exogenous hydrogen peroxide.

Measurement of adsorption constants of laccase on gold nanoparticles to evaluate the enhancement in enzyme activity of adsorbed laccase.

Adsorption of enzymes to nanoparticles and the mechanisms responsible for enzyme activity modulation of adsorbed enzymes are not well understood. In this work, gold nanoparticles were used for electrostatic adsorption of a plant-derived laccase. Adsorption constants were determined by four independent techniques: dynamic light scattering, electrophoretic light scattering, agarose gel electrophoresis and fluorescence quenching. Stable bionanoconjugates were formed with log K in the range 6.8-8.9. An increase in enzyme activity was detected, in particular at acidic and close to neutral pH values, a feature that expands the useful pH range of the enzyme. A model for the adsorption was developed, based on geometrical considerations and volume increase data from dynamic light scattering. This indicates that enzymes adsorbed to gold nanoparticles are ca. 9 times more active than the free enzyme.

Synthesis, characterization and use of enzyme cashew gum nanoparticles for biosensing applications.

This research reports, for the first time, the immobilization of an enzyme - Rhus vernificera laccase - on cashew gum (CG) nanoparticles (NPs) and its application as a biological layer in the design and development of an electrochemical biosensor. Laccase-CG nanoparticles (LacCG-NPs) were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method and characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The average size and stability of the NPs were predicted by DLS and zeta potential. The ATR-FTIR results clearly demonstrated an interaction between -NH and -OH groups to form LacCG-NPs. The average size found for LacCG-NPs was 280 ± 53 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.309 ± 0.08 indicated a good particle size distribution. The zeta potential shows a good colloidal stability. The use of a natural product to prepare the enzymatic nanoparticles, its easy synthesis and the immobilization efficiency should be highlighted. LacCG-NPs were successfully applied as a biolayer in the development of an amperometric biosensor for catechol detection. The resulting device showed a low response time (6 s), good sensitivity (7.86 µA µM-1 cm-2), wide linear range of 2.5 × 10-7-2.0 × 10-4 M, and low detection limit (50 nM).

Analysis of Fresh Sap Collected from Ryukyu Lacquer Tree.

The chemical structure of fresh lacquer sap collected from a lacquer tree growing in Nago City of Okinawa, Japan, was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass-spectrometry (GC/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results showed that Nago lacquer is laccol lacquer and its major components are 3-(heptadeca-10Z,13E,15E-trienyl)catechol, 3-(heptadeca-10Z,13E-dienyl)catechol, 3-(heptadeca-14Z-enyl)catechol, and 3-(heptadeca-12Z-enyl)catechol, which are similar to the components of Vietnamese lacquer. It showed higher laccase activity at pH 5 - 8 and better low temperature adaptability than Vietnamese lacquer. The Nago lacquer reached a dust free dry (DF) condition after 6 h, but Vietnamese lacquer did not. However, both were able to achieve harden dry (HD) in 24 h at 25°C, 80% relative humidity. In order to identify the lacquer provenance, the strontium isotope ratio was analyzed. The strontium isotope ratio (87Sr/86Sr) of Nago lacquer was 0.7110, which is different from the 0.7450 of Vietnamese lacquer.

The mechanism of electron transfer in laccase-catalysed reactions.

1. The reaction of the electron acceptors in Rhus vernicifera laccase (monophenol, dihydroxyphenylalanine:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) have been studied with stopped-flow and rapid-freeze EPR techniques. The studies have been directed mainly towards elucidation of the role of the type 2Cu2+ as a possible pH-sensitve regulator of electron transfer. 2. Anaerobic reduction experiments with Rhus laccase indicate that the type 1 and 2 sites contribute one electron each to the reduction of the two-electron-accepting type 3 site. There is also evidence that the reduction of the type 1 Cu2+ triggers the reduction of the type 2 Cu2+. 3. Only at pH values at which the reduction of the two-electron acceptor is limited by a slow intramolecular reaction can an OH- be displaced from the type 2 Cu2+ by the inhibitor F-. 4. A model describing the role of the electron-accepting sites in catalysis is formulated.

Kinetic studies of Rhus vernicifera laccase. Evidence for multi-electron transfer and an oxygen intermediate in the reoxidation reaction.

1. The reoxidation of reduced Rhus vernicifera laccase (monophenol,dihydroxyphenylalanine:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) by molecular oxygen has been studied by optical absorption and EPR methods. 2. The reoxidation by oxygen of the type 1 Cu+ and the two-electron acceptor is characterized by a second-order rate constant of about 5-10(6) M-1-s-1. 3. The appearance of an optical intermediate (with an absorbance maximum around 360 nm) parallels the reoxidation of type 1 Cu+ and the two-electron acceptor. It disappears in a first-order reaction with a half-time of 20 s. A similar intermediate is formed during normal turnover. 4. The type 2 Cu+ appears to be reoxidized in an intramolecular reaction with a half-time of about 20 s, suggesting a correlation between the reoxidation of this site and the disappearance of the optical intermediate. 5. The results suggest that three electrons are rapidly transferred to oxygen leading to the formation of an enzyme-bound oxygen intermediate.

Substituent effects on the electron transfer reactivity of hydroquinones with laccase blue copper.

Stopped-flow kinetic studies of the anaerobic reduction of Rhus vernicifera laccase (monophenol, dihydroxyphenylalanine:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) type 1 copper by 25 mono- and disubstituted hydroquinones (H2Q-X) have been performed at 25 degrees C and pH 7.0 in 0.5 M phosphate. All of the data are compatible with a mechanism involving rapid enzyme-substrate complex formation followed by rate-limiting intra-complex electron transfer. ES complex formation constants (Qp) for many substrates are strikingly insensitive to the electronic characteristics of the substituent X, falling within the range 5--50 M-1. It is shown that this result may be accounted for if only the singly ionized forms of the substituted hydroquinones are bound by the enzyme. All of the substrates exhibiting exceptionally high Qp values (greater than 50 M-1) have X groups capable of functioning as ligands; substituents with lone pairs of electrons may facilitate enzyme-substrate complex formation by enabling hydroquinone to function as a bidentate bridging ligand between the type 2 and type 3 copper sites. Intra-complex electron transfer rate constants for most substrates are remarkably insensitive to the thermodynamic driving force for the oxidation of H2Q-X to the corresponding semiquinone, the average value for ten substrates being 30 +/- 10 s-1. The electron transfer reactivity of polyphenols with laccase blue copper therefore appears to be controlled largely by protein-dependent activation requirements rather than by the oxidizability of the substrate.

Magnetic studies of the trinuclear center in laccase and ascorbate oxidase approached by EPR spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements.

The trinuclear centers in Rhus vernicifera laccase and Cucumis sativus ascorbate oxidase have been studied by EPR spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements over the wide range of 5 K to 300 K. The EPR spectra showed that type II copper receives increasing tetrahedral distortion with raising temperature. Magnetic susceptibilities of laccase showed that both of type I and type II coppers are almost fully paramagnetic since the antiferromagnetic interaction between type III coppers is extremely strong from 5 K to 300 K. On the other hand, the effective magnetic moment of ascorbate oxidase is contributed by ca. 1.7 Cu2+ even below ca. 100 K, since type II Cu is partly in the reduced form. The effective magnetic moment continuously increased with raising temperature because the antiferromagnetic interaction between type III coppers is not as strong as in the case of laccase. The simulation of the SQUID measurement results suggested that the conformational change of the ascorbate oxidase molecule caused the temperature dependence of the antiferromagnetic interaction. The type II Cu EPR signals in laccase and ascorbate oxidase were conspicuously broadened with raising temperature because of the increasing contribution of the triplet state by type III Cu's and/or of the rapid relaxation which finally led to only ca. 30% detection of the type II Cu signals at room temperature. The stepwise binding of azide to the trinuclear center made one of type III Cu's to be EPR detectable. SQUID measurements indicated that only one Cu in the trinuclear center is paramagnetic and other two Cu's are antiferromagnetically coupled for both of the one- and two-azide bound forms. The binding mode of azide to the trinuclear center was discussed based on some models.

Steady-state kinetics of laccasse from Rhus vernicifera.

The steady-state kinetics of laccasse (monophenol, dihydroxyphenylalanine: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) from the lacquer tree Rhus vernicifera is investigated using the respirograph method to produce Lineweaver-Burk plots of oxygen consumption rate against oxygen concentration. A ping-pong mechanisms is established. The kinetic constants obtained according to the model is in close agreement with the corresponding values obtained from earlier studies on the transient reactions between the reduced enzyme and oxygen (Andréasson, L.E., Brändén, R. and Reinhammar, B. (1976) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 438, 370--379) and between the oxidized enzyme and reducing substrates (Andréasson, L.E. and Reinhammar, B. (1976) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 445, 579--597).

The removal of the type-2 copper from Rhus vernicifera laccase.

We have studied the removal of the type-2 copper from tree laccase (Rhus vernicifera) by treatment with EDTA at pH 5.2 in the presence of a redox buffer containing ferri- and ferrocyanide. The efficiency with which the copper is removed depends on the Fe(CN) 6(4-)/Fe(CN) 6(3-) ratio. We have varied this ratio from approx. 2:1 to about 50:1 and the best results were obtained with the highest ratio, i.e., the most cathodic solution potential. Nevertheless, the presence of Fe(CN) 6(3-) is required for the procedure to be effective. Although we cannot exclude the possibility that a mixed-valence form of laccase is the reactive species, we believe the results are better explained by a model which assumes that the removal of the type-2 copper depends upon an ordered sequence of oxidation-reduction reactions. Specifically, we propose that the copper is released as the monovalent ion from previously reduced laccase and then reoxidized in solution and sequestered with EDTA. The reoxidation step drives the reaction because recombination with the protein is inhibited when copper is in the divalent form. In testing this model, we have also shown that the type-2 copper can be removed under strictly reducing conditions when 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-biquinoline (BCA) is present to complex the copper(I) ion. Although the BCA method is effective, the reaction takes longer, perhaps because of the limited solubility of BCA at the pH values of interest. Finally, we have found that the best results are obtained with either method when a cyanometalate ion such as Fe(CN) 6(3-) or Co(CN) 6(3-) is present in the medium. The exact role of this factor has yet to be established, but there is no indication that free cyanide has a role in the process. The most likely interpretation is that some type of binding interaction with the protein facilitates copper release.

Kinetic studies of Rhus vernicifera laccase. Role of the metal centers in electron transfer.

The reactions of Rhus vernicifera (monophenol,dihydroxyphenylalanine: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) with the reducing substrates hydroquinone and ascorbic acid have been investigated with the stopped-flow technique. Rhus laccase appears to be present in two molecular forms with a pH-sensitive equilibrium constant regulating the relative concentrations of each species. A model for the reaction of Rhus laccase with reducing substrates has been formulated. The model is similar to one formulated earlier for the anaerobic reduction of laccase from Polyporus versicolor (Andréasson, L.-E., Malström, B.G., Strömberg, C. and Vänngård, T. (1973) Eur. J. Biochem. 34, 434-439) and accounts for the reduction also of this enzyme. The essentials of the model are as follows: Electrons are taken up from reductants one at a time. The type 1 Cu2+ has a central role in mediating the transfer of at least one of the electrons needed for the reduction of the co-operative two-electron acceptor. Intramolecular reactions determine the concentrations of two molecular forms of the enzyme and influence the rate of reduction of the two-electron acceptor. The model, which has been used for successful simulations of the anaerobic reduction of Rhus laccase, is capable of explaining the reduction of laccases also in the presence of the inhibitor F-. In addition, the model gives an explanation of the behaviour of the laccases when reducing substrates and O2 are simultaneously present and is consistent with earlier observations of the post-steady-state reduction of the type 1 Cu2+ and the two-electron accetor (Holwerda, R.A. and Gray, H.B. (1974) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 96, 6008-6022).

EPR spectra of type 3 copper centers in Rhus vernicifera laccase and Cucumis sativus ascorbate oxidase.

In order to reveal the detailed structure of the trinuclear site composed of type 2 copper and a pair of type 3 copper centers in multicopper oxidases, the action of inhibitors such as azide, thiocyanate, and fluoride on laccase and ascorbate oxidase has been investigated by absorption, CD, and EPR spectroscopies. Anaerobic reactions of inhibitor-treated laccase and ascorbate oxidase with pyrocatechol and L-ascorbate, respectively, gave EPR signals originating from the inhibitor-bound type 3 copper, except for the case of F(-)-laccase. The hyperfine splittings of these EPR signals (Az = 10.10(-3)-18.10(-3) cm-1) were smaller than those of type 2 copper centers (ca. 20.10(-3) cm-1), indicating that type 3 copper has a tetragonal geometry with tetrahedral distortion. The facile detection of a series of the inhibitor-bound type 3 copper centers indicates that the action of the exogenous anionic inhibitors is not only to interfere the access of dioxygen to the trinuclear site, but also to restrain the reduction of type 3 copper by lowering its reduction potential.

pH and microwave power effects on the electron spin resonance spectra of Rhus vernicifera laccase and Cucumis sativus ascorbate oxidase.

The present study shows that the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectral features of Rhus laccase depend considerably on the pH value of the enzyme solution and the irradiated microwave power. Because of the local protein structure change, the type 1 copper is appreciably autoreduced at alkaline pH as monitored both by the ESR and absorption spectroscopies. In addition, the ESR signal of the type 2 copper, especially its g perpendicular region, becomes prominent at alkaline pH. Protein dissociation from a water or an imidazole group coordinated to the type 2 copper is supposed to be responsible for this behavior. Besides above pH effects, the g perpendicular component of the type 2 copper ESR signal is obscured with rising microwave power level. The power saturation behavior of native laccase and its derivatives reveals that the type 2 copper is more easily saturated than the type 1 copper. Cucumis ascorbate oxidase also exhibits similar behavior upon pH variation and microwave power saturation.

A novel mixed valence form of Rhus vernicifera laccase and its reaction with dioxygen to give a peroxide intermediate bound to the trinuclear center.

Rhus vernicifera laccase, in a novel mixed valence state [T1oxT23red: type 1 Cu as Cu(II), and type 2 and 3 Cus as Cu(I)], was formed by reacting Cu(I) on the type 2 Cu-depleted laccase [T1oxT3red: type 1 Cu as Cu(II) and type 3 Cus as Cu(I)] under argon. Contrary to T1oxT3red, T1oxT23red was highly reactive with dioxygen, and gave the three transient bands at 340, 475, and 680 nm due to the two-electron reduced form of dioxygen [charge transfer bands from peroxide to Cu(II)]. The first order decays were highly dependent on pH, which led to the successful detection of the intermediate for ca. 2 h at pH 7.5. Another mixed valence derivative, T12oxT3red [type 1 and type 2 Cus as Cu(II), and type 3 Cus as Cu(I)] prepared through the action of Cu(II) on T1oxT3red was not reactive with dioxygen, but showed high enzyme activity as to the oxidation of N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine. The whole reaction mechanism of the reduction of dioxygen by laccase was proposed based on the present results together with data for the former detection and characterization of the three-electron reduced form of dioxygen [Huang, H. et al. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 46, 32718-32724].

Copper transfer from Rhus vernicifera laccase.

Tree laccase, a multi-copper oxidase, has been studied as a copper donor in conjunction with the demetalated forms of three blue copper proteins. Copper transfer could be observed under reducing conditions in the absence of air. Only about 10% of the total copper in laccase could be transferred regardless of the amount of acceptor present in solution, hence, the laccase is heterogeneous as isolated. Potential sources of the heterogeneity are considered. After transfer, laccase could be partially resolved into copper-deficient and nearly holoprotein fractions that would not donate copper when recombined with acceptor protein. EPR results in conjunction with thiol titrations indicate that there is no net loss of type 1 copper from laccase but that there is loss of type 2 copper as well as a small amount of type 3 copper. Very little transfer is observed when type 2-depleted laccase is used as the donor. Finally, the implications that these results could have in the elucidation of possibly more physiologically relevant processes are briefly summarized.

Spectroscopic and catalytic properties of Rhus vernicifera laccase depleted in type 2 copper.

1. The type 2 copper in Rhus vernicifera laccase was completely removed without loss of other types of copper. The properties of this protein derivative and the role of type 2 copper in the catalytic action of laccase was investigated. 2. The molar extinction coefficient at 614 nm of the blue chromophore decreases from 5700 to 4700 cm-1 on removal of type 2 copper. There are no apparent absorption changes at other wavelengths in the visible or near ultraviolet region when this copper is taken away. The electron-paramagnetic-resonance (epr) parameter A parallel and the linewidth of type 1 Cu2+ decreases on removal of type 2 copper. 3. The rate of reduction of type 1 Cu2+ is not affected by removal of type 2 copper but the reduction of the two-electron acceptor is greatly impaired. These results strongly support the idea that type 1 Cu2+ is the primary site for electron transfer between substrate and enzyme and that the two-electron acceptor in the native enzyme is reduced by simultaneous electron transfer from reduced types 1 and 2 copper. 4. Reoxidation of types 1 and 3 copper and the formation of the oxygen intermediate are the same processes in native and type-2-depleted enzyme. These observations suggests that type 2 copper is not involved in the formation and rapid decay of the oxygen intermediate and that it is not necessary for the stabilization of this intermediate. 5. Two new epr signals are observed on reoxidation of reduced type-2-depleted laccase. One is temporarily formed on re-reduction of reoxidized enzyme and it is suggested that it might arise from copper, possibly type 3 copper. The other one is stable for hours and it is proposed that it might come from a modified oxygen intermediate.

Assay for Laccase activity by microcalorimetry: laccase was extracted from china lacquer of Rhus vernicifera.

The reactions between Laccase (extracted from China lacquer of Rhus vernicifera) and various substrates (3,4-Dihydroxybenzaldehyde, Guaiacol, Pyrogallol, Gallic acid) have been studied using LKB-2107 batch microcalorimetry system. Based on calorimetry, a new method has been proposed. Laccase activity and the Michaelis constant K(m) have been determined simultaneously by this method. The method is simple, sample-saving, and valid for a wider range of substrate concentrations. Furthermore, it can be extended for assaying other enzymes catalyzing reactions using this method.

Development of a gas-phase oxygen biosensor using a blue copper-containing oxidase.

A gas-phase oxygen biosensor based on blue copper-containing oxidases was developed. Blue-oxidase enzymes, including laccase and ascorbate oxidase, have a blue chromophore prosthetic group, type 1 Cu+2, which can be reduced and decolorized with reducing substrates. When the enzyme is reoxidized with molecular oxygen, there is a concomitant return of the blue color. The oxygen biosensor consisted of the Rhus vernicifera laccase and ascorbate as substrate enclosed in pouches of low-density polyethylene under nitrogen gas. Operational stability of the biosensor was established by exposing it to different oxygen/nitrogen gas mixtures at 5 degrees C. Gas-phase oxygen concentrations were measured by keeping it under nitrogen gas and subsequently recording the rate of reappearance of the enzyme blue color, both visually and spectrophotometrically at 610 nm. The oxygen biosensor was able to detect a wide range of oxygen concentrations. The time required to recover the blue color, namely the biosensor response time, at the optimized assay conditions of 5 degrees C and a high-water activity level, was determined. This research describes the development of an oxygen biosensor with adequate activity and stability to measure gas-phase oxygen concentrations at 5 degrees C and high-water activity levels. The oxygen biosensor could be used to indicate oxygen concentrations above acceptable levels in headspace oxygen concentration which could affect the quality and safety of products packaged under initial low levels of oxygen concentration.

Oxidation and reduction of copper ions in catalytic reactions of Rhus laccase.

1) It was demonstrated by colorimetric as well as EPR measurements that the native (aerobic, resting state) Rhus vernicifera laccase contains both Cu2+ and Cu+ (total Cu content was 4.0 gram atoms/mole). The ratio of Cu2+ to total Cu in laccase varied (42-90%) in samples of latex collected from various districts. The absorption maximum at 615 nm was proportional to the content of total Cu in the enzyme sample. Laccase activity was found to almost parallel the content of the Cu2+ form. The oxidized minus reduced difference absorbance of the enzyme at 330 nm shoulder was proportional to the amount of Cu2+. 2) Steady state level of oxidation of laccase copper during the laccase copper catalytic action, the rates of reduction by substrates and the oxidation by O2 were determined by following absorbance changes at 615 and 330 nm by the stopped flow method. 3) All the results from titrimetric and kinetic experiments were consistent with the laccase model previously proposed by Makino and Ogura in which a laccase molecule contains 1 Cu(615) and 3 Cu(330). Our expanded model states that a laccase sample originally contains active as well as inactive enzymes. In the active enzyme, Cu ions are reactive to O2 but in the inactive enzyme, Cu can be oxidized only by oxidizing agents such as H2O2 or ferricyanide, or by a slow intermolecular electron transfer from Cu(615) to the active enzyme. In both species of enzyme rapid reduction of Cu2+ ions by substrate takes place. In comparative studies of the reactivities of Cu ions in various copper proteins, we would like to suggest that oxidatic activity of a copper protein is due to the Cu+ form of the enzyme ions with O2.

[Study on the interaction between Pd(II) and Rhus vernicifera laccase].

The influence of the mixing time of Pd(II) and Rhus vernicifera laccase on the oxidation of 5,6-dibromo-2,3-dicyanohydroquinone (DDBQH2) catalyzed by laccase has been studied through spectrophotometer at pH 4.5 and (30 +/- 0.1 degree C). The activation of Pd(II) on the laccase activity is gradually converted into inhibition and ultimately inactivation with the extension of the mixing time of Pd(II) and laccase, and the rate of such conversion goes up with the increase of Pd(II) concentration. The influence of Pd(II) on the absorption spectrum of laccase suggests that it is the type I site in laccase with which Pd(II) interacts and Pd(II) may gradually and at last substitute Cu(II) from the site. The substitution may be the cause of decrease and disappearance of laccase activity.