Enhanced extracellular laccase activity as a part of the response system of white rot fungi: Trametes versicolor and Abortiporus biennis to paraquat-caused oxidative stress conditions

Effects of paraquat dichloride (PQ) on the laccase (LAC) activity and some biochemical parameters of Trametes versicolor and Abortiporus biennis strains belonging to white rot Basidiomycetes fungi were examined. PQ water solution was added to 10-day-old stationary cultures cultivated on a liquid medium. Having measured the activity of extracellular laccase during the first 120 h, we found that the addition of 25 μM paraquat to T. versicolor and 20 μM paraquat to A. biennis cultures significantly stimulated the LAC activity in comparison to the control value (without PQ). Native PAGE gel analysis demonstrated that no new isoforms of laccase appeared in the presence of PQ stress. The increase of LAC activity was connected with dry weight loss. Enhanced activity of extracellular superoxide dismutase was observed during the first 48 h after PQ application in both investigated strains. The PQ-treatment also caused an evident increase of catalase activity, formaldehyde level and depletion of glutathione in T. versicolor as well as in A. biennis mycelia.