Characteristics And Use Of Multicopper Oxidases Enzymes

Multicopper oxidases (MCOs) are a large family of blue copper proteins which contain from one to six copper atoms per molecule. Their catalytic centre consists of three domains which involve type I Cu, type II Cu and a pair of type III Cu’s. They include laccases, ferroxidases, ascorbate oxidase, bilirubin oxidase, laccase-like multicopper oxidases. MCOs are capable of one-electron oxidizing of aromatic as well as non-aromatic compounds with a concomitant four-electron reduction of molecular oxygen to water. These properties make them a valuable tool in various industries (e.g. food, textile, pharmaceutical) medicine or environment protection.

1. Introduction. 2. Multicopper oxidases – classification, structure and properties. 3. Identification methods of MCOs. 4. Laccases vs. others MCOs. 5. Application of multicopper oxidases. 6. Summary