Laccase: A Review of Its Past and Its Future in Bioremediation

Laccases are multicopper proteins that use molecular oxygen to oxidize a broad spectrum of organic compounds by a radical-catalyzed reaction mechanism. Many articles over the past 15 years have touted the diverse potential applications of laccase in various biotechnological processes. This review covers the natural roles of the enzyme, its structural properties, substrates, reaction mechanism, and inhibitors, as well as its applications regarding the detoxification and bioremediation of polluted wastewaters and soils. Other applications are briefly covered as well. The authors critically assess the advantages, shortcomings, and future needs relating to laccase availability, effectiveness, a…

A search for beta-lactamase in chlamydiae, mycoplasmas, planctomycetes, and cyanelles: bacteria and bacterial descendants at different phylogenetic positions and stages of cell wall development.

Bacteria from different phylogenetic positions such as chlamydiae, mycoplasmas, planctomycetes and also endosymbiotic murein-containing cyanelles were investigated for the production of beta-lactamases. No beta-lactamase activity was found in bacteria lacking murein such as Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Pirellula marina and Planctomyces maris. In the murein-containing cyanelles of Cyanophora paradoxa no beta-lactamase activity could be detected.

Biochemical and Biological Characterization: Effect of Microorganisms on the Formation and Transformation of Iodine Species of Refractory Organic Substances

Ageing of Dissolved Halogenated Humic Substances and the Microbiological Influence on this Process

The distribution of halogens in various fractions of humic substances (HS), separated by their molecular weight, was found to be different for the different halogens. This was demonstrated for chlorine, bromine, and iodine in sewage and brown water samples by applying inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry coupled with size-exclusion chromatography. Quantification of the different fractions of iodinated humic substances was obtained by quadrupole mass spectrometry in connection with the isotope dilution technique using an 129I-enriched spike solution. Quantitative analysis was not possible for the corresponding chlorine and bromine species because of spectrometric interferences in the…