SCREENING OF LACCASE AND MANGANESE PEROXIDASE IN CYANOBACTERIA
This study investigates the presence of laccase and manganese peroxidase enzymes in cyanobacterial strains isolated from polyethylene waste material at refuse disposal sites. Despite polyethylene representing over 36.3% of global synthetic plastic production, its biodegradation has been challenging due to its hydrophobic nature and surface properties. While laccase and manganese peroxidase are known to facilitate polyethylene biodegradation in certain fungi and bacteria, their occurrence in cyanobacteria remains largely unexplored. Seven cyanobacterial isolates (Phormedium abronema, Phormedium faveolarum, Oscillatoria laete-virens, Oscillatoria ornata, Westeollopsis prolifica, Synecocystis pevallikii, and Synechococcus elongatus) were screened for these enzymes. Six isolates demonstrated positive laccase activity with varying intensity, as evidenced by the bluish-green coloration resulting from ABTS oxidation. In contrast, no manganese peroxidase activity was detected in any of the isolates, indicated by the absence of oxidation zones in phenol red-supplemented media. These findings suggest that cyanobacteria colonizing polyethylene waste possess laccase but likely lack manganese peroxidase enzymes, providing new insights into the enzymatic mechanisms potentially involved in cyanobacterial interactions with synthetic polymers in waste environments.
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Year
2024
Volume
Vol 2
Serial
16