Laccase activity of forest litter

• Published in: Soil biology & biochemistry Vol. 31; no. 9; pp. 1239 - 1244
• Main Authors: Criquet, S, Tagger, S, Vogt, G, Iacazio, G, Le Petit, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.1999; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biochemistry; Biochemistry and biology; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; degradation; determination; enzyme activity; Extraction; forest litter; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Laccase; lignin; Litter; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Quercus ilex; sample processing; Soil science; temperature; Litter; Extraction; Laccase; Biodegradation; Enzyme; Extraction process; Plant leaf; Forest soil; Quercus ilex; Fagaceae; Polyphenol; Enzymatic activity; Pyrrolidone(vinyl) polymer; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Hardwood forest tree; Spermatophyta; Oxidoreductases
• ISSN: 0038-0717; 1879-3428
• DOI: 10.1016/S0038-0717(99)00038-3

Laccases are blue-copper enzymatic proteins involved in the transformation of polyphenolic compounds, such as lignin, into forest litter. A method to measure their activity was developed using an evergreen oak litter as a model system. We considered factors that affect the extraction of these enzymes and the measurement of their activity. The factorsstudied included powdering of the leaves, adding polyvinylpolypyrrolidone or Tween 80, adsorption of enzymes on centrifugation pellets, concentration of the extracts, nature and molarity of the extraction solvent, amount of powdered leaves used for enzymatic extraction, extraction time, pH, and temperature during the measurement of the activity.