Abstract
Fungal laccases are involved in a variety of physiological functions such as delignification, morphogenesis, and parasitism. In addition to these functions, we suggest that fungal laccases are involved in defense mechanisms. When the laccase secreting Trichoderma viride was grown in the presence of a range of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi, laccase secretion was enhanced in response to antagonistic organisms alone. In addition, growth of antagonistic microbes was restricted by the secreting fungi. Besides, our study for the first time shows the inability of the secreting fungi (T. viride) to compete with antagonistic organism when laccase activity is inhibited, further emphasizing its involvement in rendering a survival advantage to the secreting organism. When laccase inhibitor was added to the media, the zone of inhibition exerted by the antagonist organism was more pronounced and consequently growth of T. viride was significantly restricted. Based on these observations we accentuate that, laccase plays an important role in defense mechanism and provides endurance to the organism when encountered with an antagonistic organism in its surrounding.
Highlights
Laccases (E.C.1.10.3.2) are oxidoreductases that contain copper ions at the catalytic center (Kiiskinen et al, 2002) and are one of the few microbial enzymes employed in number of industrial applications (Abadulla et al, 2000; Cuoto and Herrera, 2006; Kidwai et al, 2012; Sole et al, 2012; Divya et al, 2013)
Studies shows that fungi involved in such competition often produce secondary metabolites, extracellular phenol-oxidizing enzymes like laccase, and differentiated structures in the zone of interaction (Iakovlev and Stenlid, 2000; Crowe and Olsson, 2001; Zhang et al, 2006; Wei et al, 2010)
In order to check whether enhanced production of laccase by T. viride in the co-culture is necessary for its survival, we decided to conduct a study with laccase inhibitors
Summary
Laccases (E.C.1.10.3.2) are oxidoreductases that contain copper ions at the catalytic center (Kiiskinen et al, 2002) and are one of the few microbial enzymes employed in number of industrial applications (Abadulla et al, 2000; Cuoto and Herrera, 2006; Kidwai et al, 2012; Sole et al, 2012; Divya et al, 2013). Studies shows that fungi involved in such competition often produce secondary metabolites, extracellular phenol-oxidizing enzymes like laccase, and differentiated structures in the zone of interaction (Iakovlev and Stenlid, 2000; Crowe and Olsson, 2001; Zhang et al, 2006; Wei et al, 2010).
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