A New Laccase of Lac 2 from the White Rot Fungus Cerrena unicolor 6884 and Lac 2-Mediated Degradation of Aflatoxin B(1)

Aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) is a known toxic human carcinogen and can be detoxified by laccases, which are multicopper oxidases that convert several environmental pollutants and toxins. In this study, a new laccase that could catalyze AFB(1) degradation was purified and identified from the white-rot fungus Cerrena unicolor 6884. The laccase was purified using (NH(4))(2)SO(4) precipitation and anion exchange chromatography, and then identified as Lac 2 through zymogram and UHPLC-MS/MS based on the Illumina transcriptome analysis of C. unicolor 6884. Six putative laccase protein sequences were obtained via functional annotation. The lac 2 cDNA encoding a full-length protein of 512 amino acids was cloned and sequenced to expand the fungus laccase gene library for AFB(1) detoxification. AFB(1) degradation by Lac 2 was conducted in vitro at pH 7.0 and 45 °C for 24 h. The half-life of AFB(1) degradation catalyzed by Lac 2 was 5.16 h. Acetosyringone (AS), Syrinagaldehyde (SA) and [2,2′ -azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] (ABTS) at 1 mM concentration seemed to be similar mediators for strongly enhancing AFB(1) degradation by Lac 2. The product of AFB(1) degradation catalyzed by Lac 2 was traced and identified to be Aflatoxin Q(1) (AFQ(1)) based on mass spectrometry data. These findings are promising for a possible application of Lac 2 as a new aflatoxin oxidase in degrading AFB(1) present in food and feeds.