Fungal laccase, manganese peroxidase and lignin peroxidase: Gene expression and regulation

Extensive research efforts have been dedicated to characterizing expression of laccases and peroxidases and their regulation in numerous fungal species. Much attention has been brought to these enzymes broad substrate specificity resulting in oxidation of a variety of organic compounds which brings about possibilities of their utilization in biotechnological and environmental applications. Research attempts have resulted in increased production of both laccases and peroxidases by the aid of heterologous and homologous expression. Through analysis of promoter regions, protein expression patterns and culture conditions manipulations it was possible to compare and identify common pathways of these enzymes’ production and secretion. Although laccase and peroxidase proteins have been crystallized and thoroughly analyzed, there are still a lot of questions remaining about their evolutionary origin and the physiological functions. This review describes the present understanding of promoter sequences and correlation between the observed regulatory effects on laccase, manganese peroxidase and lignin peroxidase genes transcript levels and the presence of specific response elements.

► New insights in understanding of regulation of ligninolytic enzymes expression. ► Genes of fungal laccase, manganese peroxidase and lignin peroxidase are compared. ► Regulatory elements of promoter regions of laccase, MnP and LiP are analyzed. ► Expression of all three major ligninolytic enzymes is compared. ► Complexity of their transcriptional regulation is described.