Laccase-catalysed oxidations of naturally occurring phenols: from in vivo biosynthetic pathways to green synthetic applications

0388184 - MBÚ 2013 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Jong-Rok, J. - Baldrian, Petr - Murugesan, K. - Chang, Y.-S.
Laccase-catalysed oxidations of naturally occurring phenols: from in vivo biosynthetic pathways to green synthetic applications.
Microbial Biotechnology. Roč. 5, č. 3 (2012), s. 318-332. ISSN 1751-7907
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50200510
Keywords : POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS * CRYPTOCOCCUS-NEOFORMANS * LIGNIN BIOSYNTHESIS
Subject RIV: EE - Microbiology, Virology
Impact factor: 3.214, year: 2012

Laccases are oxidases that contain several copper atoms, and catalyse single-electron oxidations of phenolic compounds with concomitant reduction of oxygen to water. The enzymes are particularly widespread in ligninolytic basidiomycetes, but also occur in certain prokaryotes, insects and plants. Depending on the species, laccases are involved in various biosynthetic processes contributing to carbon recycling in land ecosystems and the morphogenesis of biomatrices, wherein low-molecular-weight naturally occurring phenols serve as key enzyme substrates. Studies of these in vivo synthetic pathways have afforded new insights into fungal laccase applicability in green synthetic chemistry. Thus, we here review fungal laccase-catalysed oxidations of naturally occurring phenols that are particularly relevant to the synthesis of fine organic chemicals, and we discuss how the discovered synthetic strategies mimic laccase-involved in vivo pathways, thus enhancing the green nature of such reactions. Laccase-catalysed in vivo processes yield several types of biopolymers, including those of cuticles, lignin, polyflavonoids, humus and the melanin pigments, using natural mono- or poly-phenols as building blocks
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0217022