US Patent 7183090 Laccase enzyme and the gene encoding the enzyme

The invention relates to a new laccase enzyme, which can be isolated from the strains of the Melanocarpus genus, the M. albomyces strain in particular. The pH optimum of the enzyme is within 5–8 and the enzyme works at a temperature of 30–80° C. The isoelectric point of the enzyme is about 4.0 as determined by isoelectric focusing and the molecular weight about 80 kDa, defined by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme is especially well suited to applications, wherein the pH and temperature conditions are high. The invention also relates to a gene that encodes laccase enzyme, and a laccase enzyme produced by recombinant technology.